Ruzbahan: Difference between revisions

Ruzbahan ibn Vindadh-Khurshid (Template:Lang-fa), better known as Ruzbahan (also spelled as Rezbahan), was a Dailamite military officer who served the Buyid dynasty.

Biography

Like his Buyid overlords, Ruzbahan was an Dailamite, and probably belonged to a family of noble origin. He is first mentioned in 949, when the Buyid ruler Mu'izz al-Dawla sent him on a expedition against the Batihah ruler 'Imran ibn Shahin. Ruzbahan discovered 'Imran's location and attacked him, but was heavily defeated and forced to withdraw.

'Imran then became even more bold, with his subjects demanding protection money from anyone, including government officials, that crossed their path, and the path to Basra by water was effectively closed off. Mu'izz al-Daula, after receiving numerous complaints from his officers, sent another army in 950 or 951, under the joint command of Ruzbahan and the amir's vizier al-Muhallabi.

Ruzbahan, who disliked the vizier, convinced him to directly attack 'Imran. He kept his forces in the rear and fled as soon as fighting between the two sides began. 'Imran used the terrain effectively, laying ambushes and confusing al-Muhallabi's army. Many of the vizier's soldiers died in the fighting and he himself only narrowly escaped capture, swimming to safety. Mu'izz al-Daula then came to terms with 'Imran, acceding to his terms. Prisoners were exchanged and 'Imran was made a vassal of the Buyids, being instated as governor of the Batihah.

Peace lasted for approximately five years between the two sides. A false rumor of Mu'izz al-Daula's death in 955, however, prompted 'Imran to seize a Buyid convoy traveling from Ahvaz to Baghdad. Mu'izz demanded that the items confiscated be returned, at which point 'Imran returned the money gained, but kept the goods taken. Ruzbahan was then for a third time sent to the swamp, but shortly revolted and spared 'Imran from a new attack. Ruzbahan's rebellion, however, was suppressed two years later in 957, and he was then imprisoned. Mu'izz later put Ruzbahan to death by ordering his men to drown him in the Tigris.

Sources

• Kennedy, Hugh N. (2004). The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century (Second ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Ltd. ISBN 0-582-40525-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Donohue, John J. (2003). The Buwayhid Dynasty in Iraq 334h., 945 to 403h., 1012: Shaping Institutions for the Future. ISBN 9789004128606. Retrieved 3 February 2014. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Kabir, Mafizullah (1964). The Buwayhid Dynasty of Baghdad, 334/946-447/1055. Retrieved 3 February 2014. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)