Layzānshah () or Shah of Layzān was a historical title given to the lords of Layzan. According to

Vladimir Minorsky Vladimir Fyodorovich Minorsky (; – 25 March 1966) was a White Russian academic, historian, and scholar of Oriental studies, best known for his contributions to the study of history of Iran and the Iranian peoples such as Persians, Lurs, and ...

, the title was first granted to local rulers by their

Sassanid Persia The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, th ...

n overlords, medieval authors specifically mentioning Anushirvan. Layzān was a principality formed around modern Lahıc,

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

and covered valley of Girdimanchay, whose population might be migrants from

Lahijan Lahijan () is a city in close proximity to the Caspian Sea within the Central District (Lahijan County), Central District of Lahijan County, in northwestern Iran's Gilan province, Gilan province. It serves as capital of both the county and ...

Gilan Gilan Province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, in the northwest of the country and southwest of the Caspian Sea. Its capital is the city of Rasht. The province lies along the Caspian Sea, in Iran's Region 3, west of the province of ...

Ibn Hawqal Muḥammad Abū’l-Qāsim Ibn Ḥawqal (), also known as Abū al-Qāsim b. ʻAlī Ibn Ḥawqal al-Naṣībī, born in Nisibis, Al-Jazira (caliphal province), Upper Mesopotamia; was a 10th-century Arab Muslim writer, geographer, and chronic ...

mentioned Layzān as part of Arran, while

Al-Masudi al-Masʿūdī (full name , ), –956, was a historian, geographer and traveler. He is sometimes referred to as the "Herodotus of the Arabs". A polymath and prolific author of over twenty works on theology, history (Islamic and universal), geo ...

in chapter 17 of his ''

The Meadows of Gold ''Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems'' (, ') is a 10th century history book by an Abbasid scholar al-Masudi. Written in Arabic and encompassing the period from the beginning of the world (starting with Adam and Eve) through to the late Abbasid era ...

'' placed it in periphery of Shirvan. After

Anarchy at Samarra The Anarchy at Samarra () was a period of extreme internal instability from 861 to 870 in the history of the Abbasid Caliphate, marked by the violent succession of four caliphs, who became Puppet ruler, puppets in the hands of powerful rival milit ...

, the title was acquired by Haytham ibn Khalid's brother Yazid ibn Khalid and passed on to his children. The latter's grandson Abu Tahir Yazid attacked his cousin Ali I and killed all of his family save for his grandson, thus holding both titles of Layzanshah and

Shirvanshah The Shirvanshahs (Arabic/) were the rulers of Shirvan (in present-day Azerbaijan) from 861 to 1538. The first ruling line were the Yazidids, an originally Arab and later Persianized dynasty, who became known as the Kasranids (also referred t ...

together. Later Layzan was granted as a fief to sons of Shirvanshahs. Known holders of the title include: # Yazid ibn Khalid (861–?, son of

Khalid ibn Yazid al-Shaybani Khalid ibn Yazid al-Shaybani (in Arabic خالد بن يزيد الشيباني) was an Arab general and governor for the Abbasid Caliphate, active in the second quarter of the 9th century. Khalid was a member of the Shayban tribe, dominant in ...

) # Muhammad of Layzan # Abu Tahir Yazid (?–917) # Muhammad II (917–948) #

Ahmad Ahmad () is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other English spellings of the name include Ahmed. It is also used as a surname. Etymology The word derives from the root ( ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from ...

(948–956) Layzān became a traditional title by

10th century The 10th century was the period from 901 (represented by the Roman numerals CMI) through 1000 (M) in accordance with the Julian calendar, and the last century of the 1st millennium. In China, the Song dynasty was established, with most of C ...

and fell into disuse.

References

Sources

* * Medieval history of Azerbaijan Positions of authority Sasanian administrative offices {{Iran-hist-stub