Dulafid dynasty

The Dulafid or Dolafid dynasty was an Arab dynasty that served as governors of Jibal for the Abbasid caliphs in the 9th century. During the weakening of the authority of the caliphs after 861, their rule in Jibal became increasingly independent of the central government in Samarra. In the last decade of the 9th century, however, they were defeated by the Abbasids who proceeded to reincorporate Jibal into their empire.

History

History of Greater Iran
until the rise of modern nation-states
Pre-modern
Pre-Islamic  BCE Prehistory Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Bactria-Margiana Complex 2200–1700 Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th cent. Median Empire 728–550 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Seleucid Empire 330–150 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250-125 Parthian Empire 248–CE 224 CE Kushan Empire 30–275 Sassanid Empire 224–651 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul Shahi kingdom 565–879
Islamic  Patriarchal Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Alavid dynasty 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid dynasty 819–999 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid dynasty 934–1055 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghurid dynasty 1149–1212 Seljuq Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231 Ilkhanate 1256–353 Kartids dynasty 1231–389 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357 Jalayerid dynasty 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1506 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722 Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotaki dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid dynasty 1736–1750 Zand Dynasty 1750–1794 Durrani Empire 1794–1826 Qajar Dynasty 1794–1925

The Dulafids belonged to the Arab tribe of 'Ejl ibn Lojaym. The family is first mentioned in the early 8th century as traders residing in Kufa, Iraq. There are dubious records that they supported the Abbasid family in its struggles against the Ummayad caliphs. They later moved to the Zagros region, where they resorted to highway robbery. Eventually they adopted a more legitimate lifestyle and settled in Karaj. Over time their holdings around Karaj became extensive, and by the 9th century they possessed large tracts of cultivated land, palaces and fortresses.

The first Dulafid to become governor of Jibal was Abu Dulaf al-Qasim, who was appointed to the position by the caliph Harun al-Rashid. He sided with Harun al-Rashid's successor al-Amin in the civil war against the latter's brother al-Ma'mun, was pardoned after the defeat of al-Amin and retained his post. He maintained good relations with the caliphs until his death in 840. His son and grandsons succeeded him in his position as governor of Jibal.

As Abbasid authority in the peripheral provinces broke down in the middle of the century, Jibal under the Dulafids became increasingly independent. Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Aziz (governor 879-893) played an influential role in the wars between the Abbasids and the Saffarid dynasty of Sistan, generally siding with the former. After his death, however, his sons fought amongst themselves over his holdings, presenting an opportunity to the Abbasids to retake Jibal province. Despite offering a sustained resistance, the Dulafids ultimately lost the province in 897.^[1]

Rulers

• Abu Dulaf al-Qasim (until c. 840)
• 'Abd al-Aziz ibn Abu Dulaf (c. 840-874)
• Dulaf ibn 'Abd al-Aziz (874-879)
• Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Aziz (879-893)
• 'Umar ibn Ahmad (893-896)
• Abu Layla al-Harith (896-897)^[2]

See also

• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

References

1. ^ Donner, Fred M. Dolafids. Encyclopaedia Iranica. Ed. Ehsan Yarshater. Columbia University. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
2. ^ Bosworth, Clifford Edmund. The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. New York City: Columbia University Press, 1996. ISBN 0231107145. p. 153