The Saffarid dynasty was founded by Ya’qub bin Laith as-Saffar, a commoner from Sīstān, who first worked as a coppersmith, then became a warlord, before leading the conquest of (what is now) Iran and Afghanistan and becoming the dynasty’s first Emir.
The empire was at its peak during Ya’qub’s rule and its territory stretched from “borders of Afghanistan and India in the east to Fārs, Ahvāz and the fringes of Iraq in the west, at one point invading Iraq and threatening Baghdad” with the centre of their power in their homelands of Sīstān
[1]
After Ya’qub’s death the dynasty lasted only 124 years, during which time it slowly reduced in territory. The last amir of the Saffarid dynasty, Khalaf, was forced to abdicate in 1003 after a coup d’etat by the Sīstān military leaders who invited the Ghaznavids to invade. Khalaf was exiled to Gardīz where he spent two years before he died. In the meantime, Sīstān became a province of the Ghaznavid Empire.
[2]
[1]: ”Saffarids.” https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/ZU3IU97Q.
[2]: Frye 2007: 134-135. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/7XE9P8HB
| Year Range | Saffarid Caliphate (ir_saffarid_emp) was in: |
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The first capital of the Saffarid empire was Zaranj. However in the middle of the nineth century, the dynasty’s founder, Ya’qub bin Laith, made Shiraz his capital after he conquered the region of Fars. [1]
[1]: Bosworth 2007: 477. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/HGHDXVAC
The empire was at its peak during the reign of the dynasty founder, Ya’qub.
[1] [2] : 1. Amir :: 2. Commander-in-chief ::: 3. Commanders :::: 4. Officer/Leader (sarhangs) ::::: 5. Cavalrymen :::::: 6. Infantrymen
[1]: Frye 2007: 110, 118. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/7XE9P8HB
[2]: Bosworth 1968: 540, 549. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/BPCWEZBH
Major cities, such as Ghazna and Zaranj, had citadels. There were fortresses across the region. [1] There were also enclosed prisons in the cities. [2]
[1]: Frye 2007: 133, 135. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/7XE9P8HB
[2]: Bosworth 2007: 422. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/HGHDXVAC
Prose and verse regarding Persian history began to emerge under the Saffarids. [1] In the reign of Yaʿqub, poets wrote panegyrics about his successes. [2]
[1]: Yarshater 1983: 477. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/X7EBQRHC
[2]: ”Saffarids.” https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/ZU3IU97Q.
Silver mines. “Only under the Saffarids of Sistan was real headway made by the Muslims. Thus Ya’qub b. Layth’s expedition of 256/870 via Balkh to Bamiyan, Kabul and the silver mines of Panjhir brought about the first lengthy Muslim occupation of Kabul.” [1]
[1]: (Bosworth [ed] 2007, 257) Bosworth, C. E. 2007. Historic Cities of the Islamic World. Brill. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/HGHDXVAC
There was rich armoury and three treasuries which were at the amir’s personal disposal: “The first comprised revenue from the land tax and other imposts, and was used for the army’s salaries. The second comprised revenue from the amir’s personal properties and estates (the rndl-i khdss), which was used for court expenses, food, etc. The third comprised revenue from occasional and extraordinary levies, and confiscations of the wealth of soldiers who had gone over to the enemy; from all this, special rewards and payments were given to outstandingly brave warriors and to spies and envoys.” [1]
[1]: Frye 2007: 128. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/7XE9P8HB
Credit and debit structures have not been mentioned in the sources consulted.
Postal stations have not been mentioned in the sources consulted.
A postal service has not been mentioned in the sources consulted.
Likely by horse relay but this has not been confirmed in the sources.
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.
The sources consulted have not confirmed this however it is likely geometry used as this was a feature of Muslim architecture.
The sources consulted have not confirmed the system used, however it is likely they had one given their extensive infrastructures, and that they probably used a Persian system.