Imad AD-Dawla Ali

`Ali , known as Emad o-dowleh or `Imad AD-Dawla ( Pillar of the empire ) (towards 891 - December 949) was the founder of the dynasty bouyide in Iran with Chiraz starting from 934 until its death.

Biography

`Alî initially puts at the service of the sultan samanide Nasr II and becomes a member of the entourage of the sovereign. He perhaps contacted the governor of Samanides the Gorgan and Ray as of 928. He would have made a suggestion with Nasr II which to him is worth a high position and engagements in the army for his/her two brothers Rukn AD-Dawla Hassan, and Mu `izz AD-Dawla Ahmad which is the wire of Bûyah (or Boyeh) the éponyme of the dynasty.

In 930, the governor of the Gorgan and Ray who had taken `Alî under his protection, revolts against its suzerain samanide. He seizes Khorasan and undergoes consequently the attack of the prince Ziyarides Mardâvij who it constrained to give up Tabaristan. “Ali is his brothers arrange himself to pass in the camp of Mardâvij at the time when it prepares with the conquest of the south of the mountains of the Elbourz until Qazvin. A little later Mardâvij allots to `Alî the post of governor of the town of Karaj a strategically important city 40 km in the west of Ray. `Alî is then informed by the vizier de Mardâvij whom it projects in fact to eliminate it. `Alî leaves Ray for Karaj precipitately.

`Alî undertakes to extend his field using a small troop of Daylam ites. Making movement against the Khurramites which occupy the close mountains. It takes the control of the area. It reinforces the loyalty of its troops even if Mardâvij tries to encourage them to rebel.

Foundation of the state bouyide

With an aim of consolidating his position, “Ali decides to then seize the surroundings of Ispahan under the authority of Abbasid governor named Yaqut. This one cannot resist but the approach of constrained Mardâvij `Alî to withdraw and leave the place to Ziyarides. `Alî however manages to take Arrajan a city located between the Fars and the Khuzestân.

After having spent the winter with Arrajan, `Alî decides to leave to shift in Fars in spring 933. It again meets Yaqut which is also governor of Fars. It finds a new ally in Zayd ibn Ali Al-Naubandagani a land great landowner who hates the Abbasids. After some battles, `Alî enters to Chiraz the capital of Fars in May or June 934. Chiraz will remain with the hands of Bouyides until in 1062.

In order to prevent Mardâvij from asserting its suzerainty on this territory, `Alî is declared vassal of the caliph. In September or October 934, `Alî receives the envoys of the caliph who come to give to him the badges of his load of viceroy. `Alî balks to pay the tribute with the caliph. Two years after their arrival, one of the emissary of the caliph dies in Chiraz without no tribute being versed.

Mardâvij continues to pose problems. It tries to conquer Khuzestân which was under the authority of the caliph in order to cut Bouyides of the territory of the caliphate. As the caliph hastens to admit the authority of constrained Ziyarides that `Alî to be subjected to that of Mardâvij. This one does not enjoy its authority a long time because he is assassinated in January 935. `Alî makes pressure so that one recognizes his sovereignty on Khuzestân and for this reason it occupies Askar Mukram. Bouyides and the caliph reach an agreement: `Alî is confirmed like sovereign of Fars and Yaqut takes Khuzestân.

The Bouyide state takes form

“Ali is reinforced by the Turkish contribution of the mercenaries S which one joined after death of Mardâvij and by the disappearance of the control of Ziyarides on central Iran. He decides that Ispahan is now seizable. And it sends his brother Hassan to achieve the task. Vushmagîr the successor of Mardâvij is with the catches with the Samanides. It leaves the place but takes it again then. Although it does not receive much assistance coming from `Alî, Hassan continuous to be established in central Iran. In 940, it conquers really Ispahan and after a battle against Vushmagîr, it takes Ray to him. `Alî sends his younger brother Ahmad to the conquest of Kerman, the province seems to be ready to fall under control from Bouyides but direct control is not established and `Alî points out his brother.

`Alî sends Ahmad towards Khuzestân where a local dynasty originating in Al Basra seized the power in fact and tries to escape the authority from the caliph. They ask `Alî his assistance to get rid of the supervision of the caliph. This request gives to Ahmad the pretext of enter in Khuzestân. Although the local dynasty reinforces its position and goes even until threatening Baghdad, Ahmad ends up hanging the control of Khuzestân by itself. From there Ahmad a series of campaigns undertakes towards Iraq.

In 945, Ahmad enters Baghdad. The Caliph Al-Mustakfi attribute with the three brothers of the honorary Arab nicknames. `Alî receives the nickname of ““Imâd AD-Dawla” ( Pilier of the empire ), Hassan becomes “Rukn AD-Dawla” ( Soutien of the empire ) and the conqueror of Baghdad, Ahmad is called “Driven `izz AD-Dawla” ( Réconfort of the empire ), and receives also the title of “emir of the emirs”. In spite of this title it is `Alî `Imâd AD-Dawla which keeps preeminence on his/her two brothers by asserting for itself the title of elder emirs.

In 948, Hassan strengthened her position in Iran Central, thus fixing the limits of the empire bouyide.

`Imad AD-Dawla “Ali is not completely Master of the empire bouyide. Rukn AD-Dawla Hassan keeps a certain independence in its connection because it did not receive from assistance of “Ali in his conquest of Iran Central. On the other hand, Ahmad who needed the assistance of “Ali for his conquest of Khuzestân does not seem an independent prince and remains the subordinate of `Alî in spite of the title “of emirs of the emirs” given by the caliph.

Not having a descendant, `Imad AD-Dawla `Alî designates as successor Fannâ Khusraw, oldest son of Rukn AD-Dawla Hassan. `Imad AD-Dawla “Ali dies in December 949. The brothers of “Ali help Fannâ Khusraw to take to be able it in Chiraz. Fannâ Khusraw takes the nickname of `Adhud AD-Dawla ( the auxiliary of the empire ). Rukn AD-Dawla, which is most powerful Bouyide, claims the title of elder emirs. Driven `izz AD-Dawla and `Adhud AD-Dawla recognize this prerogative to him.

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