Ziyarid dynasty

The Ziyarid dynasty (Persian: زیاریان‎‎) was an Dailamite dynasty that ruled Tabaristan from 930 to 1090, and at its greatest extent, ruled much of present-day western and northern Iran.

Origins

The dynasty was descended from Vardanshah, leader of the Dailamite Arghich tribe, a tribe which traced its descent back to the legendary Arghush Farhadan, who was the ruler of Gilan, and lived during the time of Kai Khosrow. Vardanshah had a son named Ziyar, who married a sister of the Gilite king Harusindan, who bore him a son Zoroastrian named Mardavij. Mardavij later served another Dailamite named Asfar ibn Shiruya, but later betrayed the latter and conquered Tabaristan, which led to the foundation of the Ziyarid dynasty, which he named after his father.

History

Mardavij then began aggressively expanding his territories, killing Asfar and capturing several important cities in Iran, such as Hamadan, Dinavar, Kashan, Isfahan, Shiraz and Ahvaz. He further planned to restore the Sasanian Empire through conquering Baghdad and ousting the Abbasid caliphate, but was instead murdered in 935. After Mardavij's death, his brother and general Vushmgir, was crowned as the new Ziyarid ruler in Ray.