The Dehqan (Persian: دهقان‎), dihqan, were class of land magnates during the Sassanid and Islamic period of Iranian-speaking lands.^[1]

Etymology [link]

The original meaning was “pertaining to deh" (Old Persian: dahyu), the latter term not in the later sense of “village” (as in Modern Persian) but in the original sense of “land”.^[1]

Pre-Islamic Era [link]

In the pre-Islamic Sassanid time, the Dehqans were considered minor land-owners. The term dehqān emerged as a hereditary social class in the later Sassanid era, who managed local affairs and whom peasants were obliged to obey.

Post-Islamic Era [link]

In early Islamic texts, the dehqāns function almost as local rulers under the Arab domain and the term was sometimes juxtaposed with marzabān (“marcher/governor”). By the 11th century, the dehqans were landowners or directly involved in agriculture; either the planting or the management of the land.^[2] Aside from their political and social role, the dehqāns who were well versed in the history and culture of pre-Islamic Iran, played an important cultural role by serving rulers and princes as learned men.^[3]

For example, the governor of Basra, according to a source, had three dehqāns at his service, who told him of the grandeur of the Sassanids and made him feel that Arab rule was much inferior. Iranians had not only preserved the ideals of the dehqāns from the Sassanid times and brought them into the Islamic period, but they also inculcated these ideals to the minds of the ruling Arab aristocracy, who also fused with Iranians.^[3] The Tahirids, who were of Persian dihqan origin, initiated a resurgence of Persian culture.^[4]

During the Saljuq era, the dehqāns played a major role and the Saljuqs turned to the dehqān Iranian aristocracy in order to govern their empire. The alliance between the dehqāns and the Saljuqs actually created resentment among the Turcoman tribesmen after 1055 when Toghril Beg took over Baghdad^[3] One of the reasons for unruliness of the Turcoman tribes during the Saljuq era was the Saljuq administrations preference for the dehqāns. Due to the attachments of the dehqāns to the culture of Iran, the term dehqān had already made this word synonymous to “a Persian of noble blood” in contrast to Arab, Turks and Romans. According to some sources, including Nezami ‘Aruzi, the Iranian national poet Ferdowsi was also of the dehqān lineage.^[3] Another poet that refers to himself as a dehqān is Qatran Tabrizi who was also well versed about ancient Iran . His poetry is replete with the mention of ancient Iranian characters and their role.^[3]

References [link]