Dihqan

The ''dehqân'' (; , ''dihqân'' in Classical Persian) or ''dehgân'' (; ) were a class of land-owning magnates during the Sasanian and early Islamic period, found throughout Iranian lands. The ''dehqans'' started to gradually fade away under the Seljuks and Qarakhanids, due to the increase of the ''iqta''' (land grants) and the decline of the landowning class. By the time of their dissolution, they had played a key role in preserving the Iranian national identity. Their Islamization and cultural Iranianization of the Turks led to the establishment of the Iranian essence within the Islamic world, something which would continue throughout the Middle Ages and far into modern times.

Etymology

The term ''dehqân'' descended from Middle Persian ''dahigān'' meaning "countryman, peasant, villager" or "farmer". The original meaning was "pertaining to the deh" ()—the latter term not in the latter sense of “village” (as in Modern Persian) but in the original sense of “land”. ''Deh'' (ده / 𐭬𐭲𐭠) has both the same meaning of "village" in Middle Persian and in Modern Persian.

Pre-Islamic era

In the pre-Islamic Sasanian Empire, the ''dehqans'' were considered minor landowners. The term ''dehqan'' emerged as a hereditary social class in the later Sassanid era, that managed local affairs and whom peasants were obliged to obey.

Following the suppression of the Mazdakite uprising, Khosrau I implemented social reforms which benefited the ''dehqans''. Under the reign of Khosrau, who followed the same policies as his father, the ''dehqans'' gained influence as the backbone of the Sasanian army and as imperial tax collectors, eventually replacing the nobility as the base for the army under Khosrau's reforms. As their influence grew, they maintained Persian ethics, ideals and social norms which were later reawakened during medieval times in Islamic Persia.

Islamic era

In early Islamic texts, the ''dehqans'' function almost as local rulers under the Arab domain and the term was sometimes juxtaposed with '' marzabān'' (“marcher-lord, governor”). By the 11th century, the ''dehqans'' were landowners or directly involved in agriculture; either the planting or the management of the land. Aside from their political and social role, the ''dehqans'' who were well versed in the history and culture of pre-Islamic Iran, played an important cultural role by serving rulers and princes as learned men.

Iranians had not only preserved the ideals of the ''dehqans'' from the Sassanid times and brought them into the Islamic period, but they also inculcated these ideals to the minds of the ruling Arab aristocracy, who also fused with Iranians. In the 9th century, the Tahirids, who were of Persian ''dehqan'' origin, initiated a resurgence of Persian culture.

During the Saljuq era, the ''dehqans'' played a major role as the Saljuqs turned to the ''dehqan'' aristocracy in order to govern their empire. The alliance between the ''dehqans'' and the Saljuqs actually created resentment among the Turcoman tribesmen after 1055 when Toghril Beg took over Baghdad. Due to the attachment of the ''dehqans'' to Iranian culture, the term ''dehqan'' had already become synonymous to “a Persian of noble blood” in contrast to Arabs, Turks and Romans. According to some sources, including Nezami ‘Aruzi, the Iranian national poet Ferdowsi was also of the ''dehqan'' lineage. Another poet that refers to himself as a ''dehqan'' is Qatran Tabrizi who was also well versed about ancient Iran. His poetry is replete with the references to ancient Iranian characters and their role.

References

Sources

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Further reading

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* {{Encyclopaedia Islamica, last=Miller, first=Isabel, title=Dihqān, url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-islamica/dihqan-COM_036009, year=2017

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People from the Ghaznavid Empire
People from the Sasanian Empire
People from the Seljuk Empire
Social class in the Sasanian Empire
Persian words and phrases
People from the Samanid Empire