Mansur I of Samanid
Encyclopedia
Abu Salih Mansur was amir of the Samanids (961–976). He was the son of Nuh I
.
The death of Mansur's brother 'Abd al-Malik I at the end of 961 caused a succession crisis. The Turkic
military establishment, which was effectively in control of the government, split over who should succeed Abdul Malik. Alptigin
, the leader of the Samanid Turks and the governor of Khurasan
, supported Abdul Malik's brother, while Fa'iq, who had known Mansur since his childhood, pressed for the latter's coronation. Mansur and Fa'iq were eventually victorious; Alptigin
fled to Ghazna, where the Ghaznavid Empire
was eventually formed.
Mansur's reign was characterized by weak rule and perpetual financial troubles. A new governor of Khurasan, Abu'l-Hasan Muhammad Simjuri, was appointed; he soon went to war with the Buyids, who had in that year expelled the Samanids' Ziyarid
vassals from Tabaristan and Gurgan
. The death of Vushmgir
, the Ziyarid prince, a few years later caused an end to hostilities, and the Buyid 'Adud al-Daula
paid tribute to the Samanids. This tribute did not last for long, however, and Mansur continued to have difficulties in raising money. The Buyids would continue to move against the Samanid position; 'Adud al-Daula wrested Kirman from the Banu Ilyas
, nominal Samanid vassals, and effectively uprooted Abus, a son Vushmgir and the Samanid candidate to succeed him, from Tabaristan and Gurgan.
In 969 the Saffarid Abu Ahmad Khalaf arrived at the Samanid court, requesting for assistance against his brother Tahir
. Military aid was given, although Tahir's death in 970 proved much more effective than the Samanid assistance. Tahir's son Husain eventually continued the struggle, and gained the support of the Samanids; the tribute sent by Khalaf subsequently ceased. In 975, Mansur appointed Abu 'Abd-Allah Ahmad ibn Muhammad Jaihani, a grandson of Abu 'Abd-Allah al-Jaihani, as vizier, but he proved unable to stem the Samanid decline. Mansur died in the following year, and was succeeded by his son Nuh II.
Nuh I of Samanid
Nuh I was amir of the Samanids . He was the son of Nasr II.Nuh came to power after preventing a revolt against his father in 943. Several army officers, unhappy over Nasr's support of Ismaili missionaries, planned to assassinate him...
.
The death of Mansur's brother 'Abd al-Malik I at the end of 961 caused a succession crisis. The Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
military establishment, which was effectively in control of the government, split over who should succeed Abdul Malik. Alptigin
Alptigin
Alp Tigin was a founder of the state of Ghazna. He was a general of Central Asian Turkic origin from Balkh who had risen from a mercenary to general to the Governor of Khorasan based in Ghazni, and eventually to the ruler of Ghazna state....
, the leader of the Samanid Turks and the governor of Khurasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
, supported Abdul Malik's brother, while Fa'iq, who had known Mansur since his childhood, pressed for the latter's coronation. Mansur and Fa'iq were eventually victorious; Alptigin
Alptigin
Alp Tigin was a founder of the state of Ghazna. He was a general of Central Asian Turkic origin from Balkh who had risen from a mercenary to general to the Governor of Khorasan based in Ghazni, and eventually to the ruler of Ghazna state....
fled to Ghazna, where the Ghaznavid Empire
Ghaznavid Empire
The Ghaznavids were a Persianate Muslim dynasty of Turkic slave origin which existed from 975 to 1187 and ruled much of Persia, Transoxania, and the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. The Ghaznavid state was centered in Ghazni, a city in modern-day Afghanistan...
was eventually formed.
Mansur's reign was characterized by weak rule and perpetual financial troubles. A new governor of Khurasan, Abu'l-Hasan Muhammad Simjuri, was appointed; he soon went to war with the Buyids, who had in that year expelled the Samanids' Ziyarid
Ziyarid
The Ziyarids, also spelled Zeyarids , were an Iranian dynasty that ruled in the Caspian sea provinces of Gorgan and Mazandaran from 928-1043 . The founder of the dynasty was Mardavij , who took advantage of a rebellion in the Samanid army of Iran to seize power in northern Iran...
vassals from Tabaristan and Gurgan
Gürgan
Gürgan is a village in Baku, Azerbaijan. It forms part of the municipality of Gürgən-Pirallahı....
. The death of Vushmgir
Vushmgir
Vushmgir was a ruler of the Ziyarids from 935 until his death. He was a son of Ziyar. Vushmgir means "quail catcher" in the local Caspian Iranian dialects.-Rise to power:...
, the Ziyarid prince, a few years later caused an end to hostilities, and the Buyid 'Adud al-Daula
'Adud al-Daula
Aḍud al-Dawla or Azod od-Dowleh Panah Khusraw was an emir of the Buyid dynasty in Iran and Iraq...
paid tribute to the Samanids. This tribute did not last for long, however, and Mansur continued to have difficulties in raising money. The Buyids would continue to move against the Samanid position; 'Adud al-Daula wrested Kirman from the Banu Ilyas
Banu Ilyas
The Banu Ilyas or Ilyasids were the rulers of Kerman from 932 until 968. Their capital was Bardasir.-Muhammad b. Ilyas:Abu 'Ali Muhammad b. Ilyas was a member of the Samanid army and was of Sogdian origin. He supported the failed 929 coup against the Samanid amir Nasr b. Ahmad. After the rebellion...
, nominal Samanid vassals, and effectively uprooted Abus, a son Vushmgir and the Samanid candidate to succeed him, from Tabaristan and Gurgan.
In 969 the Saffarid Abu Ahmad Khalaf arrived at the Samanid court, requesting for assistance against his brother Tahir
Tahir
In Islamic context, Tahir refers to purity and cleanliness in accordance with religious rituals. It is also a name in several Islamic cultures.-Given name:*Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Pakistani Ahmadi...
. Military aid was given, although Tahir's death in 970 proved much more effective than the Samanid assistance. Tahir's son Husain eventually continued the struggle, and gained the support of the Samanids; the tribute sent by Khalaf subsequently ceased. In 975, Mansur appointed Abu 'Abd-Allah Ahmad ibn Muhammad Jaihani, a grandson of Abu 'Abd-Allah al-Jaihani, as vizier, but he proved unable to stem the Samanid decline. Mansur died in the following year, and was succeeded by his son Nuh II.