Makan ibn Kaki facts for kids
Abu Mansur Makan ibn Kaki (died December 25, 940) was a strong military leader from a region called Daylam. He was active in northern Iran, especially in areas like Tabaristan and Khurasan, during the early 900s. Makan got involved in fights over who would rule the Alids of Tabaristan. He even became the ruler of Tabaristan and Gurgan for short times. He often competed with other powerful Daylamite leaders like Asfar ibn Shiruya and the Ziyarid brothers Mardavij and Vushmgir. Makan sometimes fought against the Samanid rulers of Khurasan and sometimes got their support. He eventually died in a battle against a Samanid army.
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Makan's Early Life and Rise to Power
Like his father, Makan served as an officer in the army of the Alids of Tabaristan. The Alids were a branch of a religious group called the Alids who had created their own independent state in Tabaristan. This region was located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Sometimes, their rule also included nearby areas like Daylam, Gilan, and Gurgan.
Makan had strong family connections with the Alids. His son-in-law was Ja'far, the son of a religious leader known as imam Hasan ibn Ali al-Utrush (who ruled from 914 to 917). Ja'far was in a difficult struggle against al-Utrush's chosen successor, Abu Muhammad Hasan ibn Qasim. This leader was also known as the Da'i ila'l-Haqq, which means "Missionary of the True Faith."
It wasn't until 923 that Ja'far and his brother Ahmad finally managed to defeat the Da'i. They forced him to leave the area. After this, Makan was made the governor of Gurgan. This was the easternmost part of the Alid state. When Ja'far died in 924, he wanted Ahmad's son, Abu Ali Muhammad, to take the throne. However, Makan removed Muhammad from power. He put his own grand-nephew, Ismail (Ja'far's son), in charge instead. But Muhammad managed to escape. With help from another Daylamite military chief, Asfar ibn Shiruya, Muhammad defeated Makan and got his throne back.
Struggles and Comebacks
Makan escaped after his defeat. He found safety in a hidden fortress in the mountains near Sari. He stayed there until Muhammad died in 926 or 927. Then, Makan came out of hiding. He defeated the Alid army and removed Muhammad's brother, Abu Ja'far Husayn, from power. Husayn had to flee to Khurasan.
Makan did not try to become the ruler himself. Instead, he called the Da'i back from exile. In 928, Makan and the Da'i took control of the province of Rayy. They were invited there by its Samanid governor. They even moved further into Jibal, reaching as far as Qum.
However, Asfar, who now ruled Gurgan as a Samanid vassal (meaning he was loyal to the Samanids), used this chance. While Makan and the Da'i were away, Asfar returned to Tabaristan. He conquered it for himself. The Da'i went back to fight Asfar but was badly wounded near his capital city, Amul. After this, Asfar marched on Rayy. He defeated Makan, who then fled to Daylam.
New Alliances and Final Battle
Abu Ja'far Husayn was put back in power for a short time. But he was soon moved to the Samanid capital, Bukhara. The Samanid control did not last long. In 930, Makan managed to take back Tabaristan. He also gained control over most of Gurgan. He even took Nishapur in western Khurasan. However, he had to give up Nishapur in 931 because of pressure from the Samanid ruler Nasr II.
Makan also faced a rebellion at home. His relative, al-Hasan ibn al-Fairuzan, who was governing Tabaristan for him, tried to put his half-brother Ismail back in power. This revolt failed after Ismail was poisoned. Meanwhile, Asfar had lost power in Rayy. His former helper, Mardavij, rebelled against him. Asfar fled and died soon after. Abu Ja'far Husayn, who had escaped from the Samanids, asked Mardavij for help to get his position back. Mardavij sent an army to help him. Makan defeated Mardavij's forces in their first fight in 931. Eventually, after Makan returned to Tabaristan from Nishapur, Mardavij launched an attack and conquered Tabaristan.
Makan tried to get his land back with help from Gilan and Khurasan, but he failed. He then sought safety with the Samanids in Khurasan. There, Nasr made him the governor of Kirman. Makan defeated the current governor and took control of the province. He ruled Kirman until 935. At that time, he heard that Mardavij had been killed by his own Turkish soldiers.
Immediately, Makan left Kirman. He got Nasr to appoint him as governor of Gurgan. Mardavij had given Gurgan to the Samanids in 933 for peace. With the support of Samanid troops, Makan tried to take back Tabaristan. Vushmgir, Mardavij's brother and successor, managed to push back Makan's attack. Vushmgir even conquered Gurgan. But pressure from the Buyids on his western side forced him to make a deal. He agreed to accept Samanid rule and gave Gurgan to Makan.
Makan and Vushmgir's relationship got better. Makan felt secure enough to stop relying on the Samanids. Because of this, in 939, a Samanid army led by Abu Ali ibn Muhtaj attacked him in Gurgan. After his capital was under siege for seven months, Makan had to flee to Rayy. The Samanid army chased him. In a battle fought on December 25, 940, at Iskhabad near Rayy, the Samanid forces won. Makan was killed by an arrow, and his death marked the end of his career.
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