The Saffarid dynasty of Persia ruled a short-lived empire centred on Seistan, a border district between modern-day Afghanistan and Iran, between AD 861-1003. The Saffarid capital was Zaranj in Afghanistan. The dynasty was founded by – and took its name from – Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, a man of humble origins who rose from an obscure beginning as a coppersmith (saffar) in eastern Iran. He became a warlord and seized control of the Seistan region, using it as a base for an aggressive expansion eastwards and westwards. By the time of his death, he had conquered Khorasan (thus ending that region's Tahirid dynasty) as well as parts of northern India and western Iran, nearly reaching Baghdad. The Saffarid empire did not last long after Ya'qub's death. His brother and successor Amr bin Laith was defeated in battle by the Samanids in 900. He was forced to surrender Khorasan and the Saffarids were subsequently largely confined to their heartland of Seistan, with their role reduced to that of vassals of the Samanids and their successors.
Rulers of the Saffirid Dynasty
See also
