Tahirid dynasty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tahirid Dynasty
Tâheriyân
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| 821–873 | |||||||||
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Provinces governed by the Tahirids
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| Status | Nominally part of the Abbasid Caliphate | ||||||||
| Capital | Merv, later Nishapur | ||||||||
| Common languages | Persian (court, informal) Arabic (literature/poetry/science) |
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| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
| Government | Emirate | ||||||||
| Emir | |||||||||
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• 821
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Tahir ibn Husayn | ||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval | ||||||||
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• Established
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821 | ||||||||
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• Disestablished
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873 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| 800 est. | 1,000,000 km2 (390,000 sq mi) | ||||||||
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The Tahirid dynasty was a Persian family that ruled a large area called Khorasan. This region was part of the Abbasid Caliphate. The Tahirids governed Khorasan from 821 to 873. They also controlled the important city of Baghdad from 820 to 891. Their first capital in Khorasan was Merv, but they later moved it to Nishapur.
Contents
The Tahirid Dynasty: Rulers of Khorasan
The Tahirid dynasty was one of the first independent Persian ruling families. They came to power after the Abbasid Caliphate had ruled for a while. Even though they were mostly independent, they still recognized the Abbasid Caliph as their leader. This meant they were "nominally" part of the Caliphate.
Who Started the Tahirid Dynasty?
The Tahirid dynasty was founded by a man named Tahir ibn Husayn. He was a very skilled general. He helped the Abbasid Caliph Al-Ma'mun win a civil war. Because of his loyalty and success, Caliph Al-Ma'mun rewarded him.
In 821, Tahir ibn Husayn was made the governor of Khorasan. This was a very important and large province. This appointment marked the beginning of the Tahirid dynasty's rule.
Ruling a Vast Land
The Tahirids ruled a huge area in what is now Iran and Central Asia. Their main job was to keep order and collect taxes for the Abbasid Caliphate. However, they had a lot of freedom to govern their own lands.
- They moved their capital from Merv to Nishapur. Nishapur became a center for learning and trade.
- They were known for being good administrators. They helped the region become stable and prosperous.
- They also controlled Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, for many years. This gave them a lot of influence.
Why Were They Important?
The Tahirids played a key role in the history of the region. They helped bring stability to Khorasan. This allowed culture and trade to flourish. They also helped to revive Persian culture and language. This was important after centuries of Arab rule.
Their rule showed that local leaders could gain power. This set a pattern for other dynasties to emerge later. These new dynasties would also rule large parts of the Islamic world.
The End of the Tahirid Rule
The Tahirid dynasty's rule in Khorasan ended in 873. They were overthrown by another Persian dynasty called the Saffarids. The Saffarids were led by Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar. He conquered Nishapur, the Tahirid capital. This brought an end to the Tahirid control over Khorasan.
However, the Tahirids continued to govern Baghdad for a while longer. They finally lost control of Baghdad in 891.
