Justanids

The Justanids or Jostanids (Persian: جستانیان) were an Iranian Zaydi Shia dynasty that ruled a part of Daylam (the mountainous district of Gilan[1]) from 791 to the late 11th-century.[2]

Justanids

جستانیان
791–11th-century
CapitalRudbar
Common languagesPersian
Deylami
Religion
Zoroastrianism (791–805)
Zaydi Islam (805–11th-century)
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
 791–805
Justan I (first)
 972–1004
Khusrau Shah (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
 Established
791
 Ismaili conquest
11th-century
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Daylamites
Nizari Ismaili state

History

The Justanids appear as kings of Daylam at the end of the 8th century. Their centre was in the Rudbar of Alamut, running into the valley of the Shahrood. Two centuries later, this had become the main centre of the historical Nizari Ismailis or Assassins (Hashshashin), as they are known in the west. They appear in Islamic history as part of what Vladimir Minorsky has called "the Iranian Intermezzo".[3] This refers to a period in which indigenous Daylamite and Kurdish principalities took power in northwest Persia after two to three centuries of Arab rule. The Daylamite upsurge eventually culminated in the Buyid dynasty.

After Marzuban ibn Justan converted to Islam in 805, the ancient family of Justans became connected to the Zaydi Alids of the Daylam region. The Justanids adopted the Zaydi form of Shi'ism. In the 10th century, they were eclipsed by the Daylamite dynasty of Sallarids in Tarom (modern Iranian province of Zanjan). Nevertheless, the Justanids were tied by marriage with the Sallarids and preserved their seat of Rudbar in the highlands of Daylam. They also became allies with the Buyids. In the 11th century, they may have recognized the suzerainty of the Ghaznavids. Later, they recognized the suzerainty of the Seljuqs, but, shortly after, they fade from history.

Justanid rulers

Family tree

Justan I
r. 791–805
Marzuban
r. 805–855
Justan II
r. 855–856
Vahsudan
r. 856–865
Justan III
r. 865-919
Khusrau Firuz
r. 919
Ali
r. 919
Khurshid
r. 865
UnknownKharasuyaSiyahchashm
r. 919–928
Unnamed prince
Justan IV
r. 928–947
Manadhar
r. 947–972
Khusrau Shah
r. 972–1004
FuladhUnnamed princess
Ibn Fuladh

References

  1. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/jostanids
  2. Madelung 1975, p. 224.
  3. Minorsky, Vladimir (1953). Studies in Caucasian History. New York: Taylor’s Foreign Press.

Sources

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