MAZYADID DYNASTY

Muslim Arab dynasty that ruled central Iraq from its capital at al-Hillah in the period from about 961 to 1150. The Mazyad family, which belonged to the Bedouin tribe of Asad, had settled along the Euphrates River, between Hit and Kufah, in the middle of the 10th century; soon afterward the Buyid Sultan ad-Dawlah in Baghdad recognized 'Ali I ibn Mazyad as emir of the area. 'Ali died in 1018, leaving behind three sons, each of whom was eager to assume power, although Dubays I (reigned 101881) officially succeeded his father. Dubays' brother al-Muqallad soon attempted to oust him but, failing, turned to the 'Uqaylid capital of Mosul for help. In 1030, supported by 'Uqaylid and Buyid forces, al-Muqallad routed Dubays. Dubays, however, was allowed to return to his capital, provided that he pay a sizable tribute to the Buyid Jalal ad-Dawlah. Meanwhile, the third brother, Thabit, enlisted the aid of Arslan al-Basasiri of Baghdad in his bid for power and defeated Dubays twice in about 1033, forcing him to relinquish parts of the province to him. About 1057 Dubays himself allied with al-Basasiri against an invasion by the Seljuqs under Toghrl Beg. The brief rule of Mansur (108186) was followed by a period of heightened Mazyadid activity. Having allied himself first with the Seljuq ruler Berk-yaruq, then from about 1101 with Berk-yaruq's brother Muhammad, the Mazyadid ruler Sadaqah I (reigned 10861108) gradually assumed control of most of Iraq, seizing Hit, Wasit, Basra, and Takrit. In 1102 he expanded and fortified his capital city of al-Jami'an and renamed it al-Hillah. Sadaqah, however, proved to be too threatening to Muhammad, and the Mazyadid ruler was killed in a battle with Seljuq armies sent out against him early in 1108. Dubays II (reigned 110835) succeeded to the throne on his father's death and distinguished himself as a great warrior against the crusaders and as a generous patron of Arabic poetry. After Dubays' death, Mazyadid strength was reduced by his three brothers' efforts to displace one another from power. The dynasty finally submitted to the Seljuq sultan Mas'ud in 1150, and al-Hillah was given to one of the sultan's generals.