Saffarid dynasty

Saffarid Persian Empire سلسله صفاریان
861–1003
Saffarid Empire at its Greatest Extent Saffarid Empire at its Greatest Extent
Capital	Zaranj
Common languages	Persian
Government	Monarchy
Emir
• 867-879	Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar
• 963-1003	Khalaf I
Historical era	Medieval
• Established	861
• Disestablished	1003
Preceded by Succeeded by Tahirid dynasty Samanid Empire

The Saffarid Empire or the Saffarian dynasty (Template:Lang-fa), was an Iranian Persian empire^[1] which ruled in Sistan (861-1003), a historical region in southeastern Iran and southwestern Afghanistan.^[2]. Their capital was Zaranj.

The dynasty was founded by – and took its name from – Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, a man of humble origins who rose from an obscure beginning as a coppersmith (saffar) to became a warlord. He seized control of the Seistan region, conquering all of Afghanistan, modern-day eastern Iran, and parts of Pakistan. Using their capital (Zaranj) as base for an aggressive expansion eastwards and westwards, they overthrew the Tahirid dynasty and annexed Khorasan in 873. By the time of Ya'qub's death, he had conquered Kabul Valley, Sind, Tocharistan, Makran (Baluchistan), Kerman, Fars, Khorasan, and nearly reached Baghdad but then suffered defeat.^[3]

History of Greater Iran
Pre-Islamic BCE / BC Prehistory Kura–Araxes culture c. 3400 – c. 2000 Helmand culture/Jiroft culture 3300-2200 Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Lullubi/Zamua 3100-675 Marhaši 2550-2020 Bactria–Margiana Complex 2400–1700 Gutian Dynasty 2141-2050 Avestan period c. 1500 BCE – 500 BCE Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th century Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 Urartu 860–590 Median Empire 728–550 Scythian Kingdom 652–625 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Ancient kingdom of Armenia 331 BCE – 428 CE Seleucid Empire 330–150 Caucasian Iberia c. 302 BCE – 580 CE Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250–125 Parthian Empire 248 BCE–224 CE Caucasian Albania 2nd century BCE – 8th century CE Roman Empire 27 BCE – 330 CE CE / AD Kushan Empire 30–275 Sasanian Empire 224–651 Afrighid dynasty 305–995 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul Shahi kingdom 565–879 Dabuyid dynasty 642–760 Bagratid Armenia 880s – 1045 Alania 8th/9th century – 1238 / 9 Kingdom of Georgia 1008–1490
Islamic Rashidun Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Shirvanshah 799–1607 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Dulafid dynasty 840–897 Zaydis of Tabaristan 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid Empire 819–999 Sajid dynasty 889/90–929 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid dynasty 934–1055 Sallarid dynasty 941–1062 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231 Sultanate of Rum 1077–1307 Salghurids 1148–1282 Ilkhanate 1256–1353 Kart dynasty 1231–1389 Ottoman Empire 1299–1923 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357 Jalairid Sultanate 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1507 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722 Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotak dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid Iran 1736–1750 Zand dynasty 1750–1794 Durrani Empire 1794–1826 Qajar Iran 1794–1925
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The Saffarid empire did not last long after Ya'qub's death. His brother and successor Amr bin Laith was defeated in a battle with the Samanids in 900. Amr bin Laith was forced to surrender most of their territories to the new rulers. The Saffarids were subsequently confined to their heartland of Sistan, with their role reduced to that of vassals of the Samanids and their successors.

The Saffarid dynasty started with Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari who as a coppersmith moved to the city of Zaranj. He later started his campaign as an Ayyar and eventually got the power to act as an independent ruler. From his capital Zaranj he captured vast lands in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

• Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar (867-879)
• Amr bin Laith (879-901)
• Tahir I (901-908)
• Laith (908-910)
• Mohammed I of Persia (910-912)
• Amr II (912-913)
• Ahmad I bin Mohammed (922-963)
• Wali-ud-Dawlah (a title) Khalaf I (963-1003)

• History of Afghanistan
• History of Pakistan
• History of Iran
• List of kings of Persia
• List of Muslims

• Britannica - Saffarid Dynasty
• Nancy Hatch Dupree - An Historical Guide To Afghanistan