MOSAFERID DYNASTY

also called Sallarid, or Kangarid (AD c. 9161090), Iranian dynasty that ruled in northwestern Iran. The founder of the dynasty was Mohammad ebn Mosafer (ruled c. 916941), military commander of the strategic mountain fortresses of Tarom and Samiran in Daylam, in northwestern Iran. With the increasing weakness of the Justanid dynasty that ruled the region, Mohammad increased his power and gained control of most of Daylam. After Mohammad's death in 941, his domains were divided between his two sons, Marzoban I (ruled 941957) and Vahsudan (ruled 941957). Vahsudan ruled over the fortresses of Tarom and Samiran. Marzoban I expanded northward and westward and captured Azerbaijan and east Transcaucasia; these territories, however, were lost by the Mosaferids by 984. Ebrahim II (ruled 997c. 1030) was able to reestablish Mosaferid control over Daylam and to expand southward as far as Zanjan. After Ebrahim's death, however, the history of the dynasty becomes fragmentary; Ebrahim's descendants ruled in Daylam, first as vassals of the Ghaznavids and then of the Seljuqs. At the end of the 11th century the Mosaferids were extinguished by the Isma'ilis of Alamut.