Justanid

The Justanids (PerB|جستانیان), correctly pronounced as "justānids" were the rulers of part of Daylam (area which encompasses all or portions of the Iranian provinces Gilan, Zanjan and Qazvin) from the late eight century (791 A.D.) to approximately eleventh century (974 A.D.).

History

The Justanids appear as 'Kings of Daylam' in the end of the 8th century. Their centre wasin the Rudbar of Alamut, running into the valley of the Shahrood. Two centuries later, this would 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" [Minorsky, Vladimir, Studies in Caucasian History. New York: Taylor’s Foreign Press, 1953.] where indigenous Daylamite and Kurdish principalities take power in north west Persia after two to three hundred years of Arab rule. The Daylamite upsurge eventually culminated into the Buyid dynasty.

After Marzuban ibn (son of) Justan converted to Islam in 805 A.D., the ancient family of Justan 's fortunate became connected to the Zaydi Alids of the Daylam region. The Justanids adopted the Zaydi form of Shi'ism. In the 10th century, they became eclipsed by the Daylamite dynasty of Sallarids in Tarom (modern Iranian province of Zanjan). Nevertheless, the Justanids were tied into marriage with the Sallarids and preserved heir seat Rudbar in the highlands of Daylam. They also became allies with the Buyids. In the 11th century, they might have recognized the Suzerainty of the Ghaznavids. With the influx of the Seljuqs, they recognized the Suzerainty of the Seljuqs. But shortly after, they fade away from history.

Justanid Rulers

791 A.D. - The 'King of Daylam' Justān I, sheltering 'Alids.

805 A.D. - Marzubān b.(son of) Justān, recognized the Calipha Harun al-Rashid at Rayy.

? - Justān II b. Marzubān.

856-905 A.D. - Wahsudān b. Justān II.

905 A.D. - Justān III b. Wahsudān.

919 A.D. Ali b. Wahsudān, in Abbassid service at Isfahan and Rayy from 913 A.D. onwards

? Khusraw Firuz b. Wahsudān, ruler in Rudbar, killed after 919 A.D.

? Mahdi b. Khusraw Firuz in Rudbar

? Justan IV, d. 940 A.D., ? father of Manadhar

947 A.D. Manadhar b. Justān IV, ruling Rubar, ? died between 969 A.D. and 972 A.D.

972-974 A.D., Khusraw Shah b. Manadhar, ruling in Rubar, ? died betweeb 1002 A.D. and 1006 A.D.

"Disappearance of the dynasty during the interval of the 11th century A.D."

Notes

Literature

*Clifford Edmund Bosworth, The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual, Columbia University, 1996.
*Minorsky, Vladimir, Studies in Caucasian History. New York: Taylor’s Foreign Press, 1953.