NASR IBN SAYYAR

died 748 governor of Khorasan (now part of Iran) and other eastern provinces from 738 to 748, under the last of the Umayyad caliphs. Nasr distinguished himself by his military leadership and clever, humane diplomacy. Having led a campaign against two rebellious tribes, Nasr was appointed governor of Khorasan by the caliph al-Malik at the age of 74. Nasr waged a vigorous war against his Turkish neighbours, certain dissident tribes and, at the last, the 'Abbasid family who later seized the caliphate. Besides al-Malik, he also served the Umayyad caliphs Hisham, al-Walid II, and Yazid III. He introduced the system of land taxation for Muslims and poll taxes for non-Muslims and did much to reduce Arab intertribal hostilities.