A history of Persia

1915·55.5 MB·English

by  Sykes, Percy Molesworth, Sir, 1867-1945

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HISTORY OF PERSIA
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(Froni’-ti .Silver Vase ip the Hermitage Museum.)
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XLIV
1*A(JK
This Early Career of Mohamed at Mecca . . , i
A Description of Arabia—The Importance of Mecca—The
Ancient Religion of the Arabs—The Kaaba—The Ancestors of
the Prophet Mohamed—The Political Situation in Arabia before
and after the Birth of the'Prophet—The Childhood, Youth, and
Early Manhood of Mohamed—The Divine Commission conveyed
by Gabriel—The Assumption of the Prophetical Office, a.d. 613-
614.—The Temporary Emigration to Abyssinia, a.d. 615.
CHAPTER XLV
Thk Flight to Medina and the Establishment of Islam . 13
The Hijra, or “Flight,” to Medina, a.d. 62a—The Erection
of the First Mosque at Medina—The Breach with the Jews—The
Battle of Badr, a.h. a (623), and the Expulsion of the Beni Kainu-
cas—The Battle of Ohod, a.h. 3 (625), and the Expulsion of the
Beni Nazir—The Siege of Medina and the Massacre of the
Beni Koreitza, a.h. 5 (627)—The Truce of Hodeibia, a.h. 6 (628)
—The Embassies sent by Mohamed, a.h. 7 (628)—The Conquest
of Khaybar, a.h. 7 (628)—The “Fulfilled Pilgrimage,” a.h. 7
(629)—The Battle of Muta, a.h. 8 (629)—The Capture of Mecca,
a.h. 8 (6jo)—The Last Campaign of Mohamed, a.h. 9 (630)—
The Final Orders of the Prophet—The “ Farewell Pilgrimage,” a.h.
to (530)—The Death of Mohamed, a.h. 11 (632)—His Character
—The Koran.
HISTORY OF PERSIA
VI
CHAPTER XLVI
Islam under the First Four Caliphs .
The Period of the Caliphate, a.d. 632-1258-—The
Table of the Kureish—The Election of Abu Bckr - The Re¬
bellions, a.h. 11 (632)—The Battle on the Ycrmuk, a.h. t j (634)
—The Death of Abu Bekr and the Accession of Omar, a.h. 13
(634.)—The Capture of Damascus, a.h. 14 (635)—'Flu* Capture of
Antioch and the Capitulation of Jerusalem, a.h. 15 (636) The
Conquest of Egypt, a.h. 19-20 (640-641)—The Assassination of
Omar, a.h. 23 (644)—The Accession of Othmun, a.h. 24 (644)
The Expansion of Islam to the West, a.h, 25-31 (646 652) Hu*
Campaigns in Persia, a.h. 31 (652)—The Murder of Othtnan, a.h.
35 (^56)—The Election of Ali, a.h. 35 (656) Muavia, the
Governor of Syria—The Proclamation of War against Muuvu by
Ali, a.h. 35 (656)—The Battle of the Camel, a.h. 36 (656)- Thv
Battle of Siffin, a.h. 37 (657)—The Arbitration, A.H. 37 (65K)
TheKharijitcs—The Last Years of Ali\s Caliphate— His Assassin,*
tion, a.h. 40 (661)—His Character—The Position of Persia.
CHAPTER XLVII
The Tragedy op Kerbkla .
The Accession of Hasan and his Abdication, A.H, 40 (66*)
The Death-bed Warning of Muavia to Yeasid, a.h, 61 (6H0) ‘Hu*
Invitation to Husayn from the Inhabitants of Kufa The March
on Kufa— The Tragedy — The Journey to Damascus and tin*
Return to Medina—The Passion Plays—The Historical Basis of*
the Shia Sect—Its Religious Basis and Doctrines.
CHAPTER XLVIII
Persia a Province of the Omayyad Caliphate 47
The Omayyad Dynasty—The Position of Muavia strengthened
by the Adherence of Ziad—Moslem Progress in the East- The
Power and Prosperity of Muavia—Yezid declared Heir-Apparent,
a.h. 56 (676), and his Succession in a.h, 61 (680)—The Rebellion
of Ibn Zobayr, A.H. 61 (680)—The Bokhara Campaign-The
Campaign of the Northern Beduin against the Southern Bcduin,
a.h. 46-65 (666-685)—The Divisions in the Caliphate, a.h,
Massacre of the Enemies of Husayn, a.h, 66
Rebellion of Ibn-al-Ashath, a.h. 80
™M£sa ibn Death and Char-
acter of Abdul Malik—The Campaigns iinCcntral Alia, a.h, 86-
96 (7o5-7i4)r-The Advance to the Indus, a.h. 80-96 (707-714)
—The Achievements of Welid, a.h. 86-96 (705-7u)-The
Campaigns of Yezid in Qurgan and Tabaristan, a.h, 98 (716)—
CONTENTS vii
PAGE
Khorasan under the Caliphate of Omar II., a.h. 99-101 (717-720)
—The Reign ofYezid II., a.h. 101-105 (720-724)—The Abbasid
Propaganda—The Rebellion of Zayd, a.h. 122 (740)—The
Caliphate of Hisham, a.h. t05-125 (724-743)—Welid II. and
Yczid III., a.h. 125-126 (743-744)—The Rebellion of Ibn Muavia,
a.h. 126-129 (744—74.7)—The Raising of the Black Standard
in Khorasan, a.h, 129 (747)—The Battle of the Great Zab, a.h.
*32 (750)—The Condition of Persia under the Omayyad Dynasty.
CHAPTER XLIX
Persian Ascendancy in the Early Abbasid Period . .61
♦
The End of Moslem Unity—The Accession of Abul Abbas,
a.h. X32 (749)—The Massacre of the Omayyads—The Reign of
Abul Abbas and his Death, a.h. 136 (754)—Abu Jafar, Mansur,
A.H. 136-158 (754-775)—The Execution of Abu Muslim, a.h. 137
(754)—The Rebellions in Persia, a.h. 138 (756), and a.h. 141-143
(758-760)—The Ravandis, a.h. 141 (758)—The Rebellion of the
Descendants of Hasan, a.ii. 144 (761) —The Foundation of
Baghdad, a.h, 145 (762)—The Rising at Herat, a.h. 150 (767)—
Persian Influence under Mansur—Mehdi, a.h. 158-169 (775-785)
—The Veiled Prophet of Khorasan, a.H. 158-161 (774-777)—
Hadi, a.h. 169-170 (785-786).
CHAPTER L
The Golden Age of Islam . . . . ,68
The Splendour of Haroim-ai-Rashid, a.h. 170-193 (786-809)
—The Hasanite Prince of Daylam, a.h. 176 (792)—The Downfall
of the Barmecides—The Death of Haroun-al-Rashid, a.h. 193 (S09)
—Amin and Mamun, a.h. 193-198 (808-813)—Mamun pro¬
claimed Caliph of the East, a.h, 196 (811)—The Campaigns of
Tahir the Ambidextrous and the Death of Amin—Rebellions in
the Western Half of the Caliphate, a.h. 198-201 (813-8x6)—The
Proclamation of AH Riza as Heir-Apparent, a.h. 201 (817)—His
Sudden Death, a.h. 203 (8x8)—Tahir, Viceroy of the East, a.h.
204-207 (819-822)—The Later Years of Mamun and his Death,
2x8 (833)—The Arts, Science, and Literature under Mamun
—Moslem Exploration and Geography—The Mutazila Sect—
Motasim, a.h. 218-227 (833-842)—The Mamelukes and the-
Founding of Samarra—The Revolt of the Jatt or Gypsies—The
Capture of Babek, a.h. 222 (837)—The Campaign against the
Greeks, a.h. 223 (838)—The Later Years of Motasim’s Reign—
Wathik, a.h. 227-232 (842-847),
CHAPTER LI
The Decay of the Caliphate and the Revival of Persian
Independence . . . . . .82
The Orthodox Reaction under Mutawakkil, a.h. 232-247 (847-
86x)—The Palace of Samarra and the Cypress of Kishmar—'The
Tahiri Dynasty, a.h. 205-259 (820-872)—A Period of Anarchy,
VOL, II b
viii HISTORY OF PERSIA
PAGE
a.h. 247-256 (861-870)—The Rise of the Saffar Dynasty—
Motamid, a.h. 256-279 (870-892)—The Zanj Insurrection, a.h.
255-270 (869-883)—The Brilliant Career of Yakub bin Lais—
The Origin of the Ismaili Sect—The Carmathians—The Rise of
the Samanid Dynasty—The Career of Amr-ul-Lais, a.h. 265-290
(878-903)—The Samanid Dynasty at its Zenith—Its Decay and
Downfall—The Ziyarid Dynasty, a.h. 316-434 (928-1042)—The
Buwayhid or Daylamite Dynasty, a.h. 320-447 (932—x055)—'The
Dynasty of Ghazna, a.h. 351-582 (962-1186).
CHAPTER LII
4
The Coming of the Seljuk Turks , . . .98
The Importance of the Seljuks — Their Origin —Masud of
Ghazna—The Founding of the Seljuk Dynasty, a.h. 429 (1037)
—The Career of Toghril Beg, a.h. 429-455 (1037-1063)—Malik
Kaward of Kerman, a.h. 433-465 (1041-1072)—Alp Arslan, a.h.
455-465 (1063-1072)—The Seljuk Empire at its Zenith under
Malik Shah, a.h. 465-485 (1072-1092)—The Downfall of the
Nizam-ul-Mulk—The Death of Malik Shah, a.h. 485 (1092)-'
The Assassins—The Fatimid Dynasty, a.h. 297-567 (909-1171)
—The Career of Hasan Sabbah—“The Old Man of the Mountain’*
—The Initiation of the Devotees—Mahmud, a.h. 485 (1092);
Barkiyaruk, a.h. 487 (1094) ; Malik Shah II., a.h. 498 (*104.) 5r
Mohamed, a.h. 498-511 (1104-1117)—The Seljuks of Kerman,
a.h. 433-583 (1041-1187)—The Origin of the Crusades—The First
Crusade, a.d. 1095-1099—The Defeat of the First Army by the
Seljuks—The Capture of Nicaea and of Antioch by the Crusaders
—The Storming of Jerusalem, a.h. 492 (1099).
CHAPTER LIII
The Disruption of the Seljuk Empire , . .118
Sultan Sanjar at the Height of his Fame—An Episode of the
Assassins—The Ghorid Dynasty, a.h. 543-612 (1148-12:5)—The
Rise of the Shahs of Khwarazm—The Kara Khitai Dynasty—The
Defeat of Sultan Sanjar by the Kara Khitai, a.h. 536 (1x41)—The
Capture of Sultan Sanjar by the Ghuzz, a.h* 548 (1x53)—The
Atrocities committed by the Ghuzz—Their Ravages in the Kerman
Province—The Escape and Death of Sultan Saniar, a.h. 552
f1J57)—His Character—The Revival of the Caliphate—The
Khwarazm Dynasty at its Zenith —The Atabegs—The End of a
Great Period.
CHAPTER LIV
Persian Literature before the Mongol Invasion - 130
The Birth of . Persian Literature — Rudagi — Al- Biruni—
Avicenna—Firdausi—The Siasat-Nama—Nxsir-i-Khusru—Omar
Khayyam—The Kabus-Nama—Al-Ghazali—Muizzi—Nizami -
al-Arudi—Anwari and Khakani—Nizami—Attar—A Criticism.,
CONTENTS
IX
CHAPTER LV
The Mongol Cataclysm ......
*
The Awful Nature of the Mongol Invasion—The Origin of
the Mongols-—Yissugay, the Father of Chengiz Khan—The Rise
of Chengiz Khan, a.d. 1175-1206—The Downfall of the Kara
Khitai Dynasty—The Mongol_ Invasion of Turkestan, a.h. 615
(1218)—The Outbreak of Hostilities with Khwarazm—The In¬
vasion of Transoxiana, a.h. 616 (1219)—The Pursuit of Mohamed
and his Death, a.h. 617 (1220)—The Siege of Urganj, a.h. 617
(1220)—The Devastation of Khorasan, a.h. 617 (1220)—The
Destruction of Merv and Nishapur—The Capture of Herat—
The Campaign against Jalal-u-Din, a.h. 618 (1221)—The Return
to Tartary of Chengiz Khan—The Devastation of Western and
North-Western Persia—The Death of Chengiz Khan, a.h. 624
(1227)—His Character and Genius.
CHAPTER LVI
The Extinction of the Caliphate by Hulacju Khan . 162
p The Division of the Mongol Empire—Three Great Expedi¬
tions—The Campaign of Jalal-u-Din in India, a.h. 619 (1222)—
His Return to Persia, a.h. 620 (1223)—Ghias-u-Din—The Cam¬
paign against the Caliph, a.h. 622 (1225)—The Battle of Isfahan,
a.h. 625 (1228)—The Single Combats of Jalal-u-Din—His Escapes
from the Mongols and his Death, a.h. 628 (1231)—The Mongol
Campaigns in Asia Minor and Syria—The Kutlugh Khans of
Kerman, a.h. 619-703 (1222-1303)—Christian Missions to the
Mongols, a.d. 1245-1253—The Administration of Northern Persia
before Hulagu Khan—The Appointment of Hulagu Khan to
Persia, a.h. 649 (1251)—The Dynasty of the Assassins at its
Zenith—The Extirpation of the Assassins, a.h. 654 (1256)—The
Sack of Baghdad and the Execution of the Caliph, a.h. 656 (1258)
—The Last Years of Hulagu Khan and his Death, a.h. 663
(1265).
CHAPTER LVII
The Heathen II-Khans of Persia . . . 177
Abaga, a.h. 663-680 (1265-1281)—The Invasion from Russia,
a.h. 664 (1266)—Hayton, King of Armenia and Baybars of Egypt,
A.h, 664-665 (1266-1267)—The Invasion of Khorasan by Borak,
a.h, 668 (1270)—Yusuf Shah I., Atabeg of Luristan—The Devas¬
tation of Khwarazm and Transoxiana by Abaga, a.h. 671 (1272)
—The Battle of Abulistin, a.h. 675 (1277)—The Battle of Hims,,
A.H. 680 (1281)—The Intercourse of Abaga with Europe—The
Journey of Marco Polo in Persia, a.d. 1271—Ahmad, a.h. 680-683
(1281-1284)—The Reign of Arghun, a.h. 683-690 (1284-1291)
—John de Monte CorviSo—Gaykhatu, a,h. 690-694 (1291-1295),
ana Baydu, A.H. 694 (1295)—The Return of Marco Polo to Persia,
a.d. 1294.
X HISTORY OF PERSIA
CHAPTER LVIH
PAR,
Ghazan Khan, the Great Ii.-Khan . 183
The Accession of Ghazan, a.h. 694 (,295)—His First Syrian
Campaign, a.h. 699 (1299)—The Raiding of Southern Persia from
rransoxiana—The Defeat of the Mongols in Syria, a.h. 702
w °? d 6 ®e ~oni ?f with Byzantium ami the
Western Powers-His Reforms-His Buildings and Endowment.
—Uljaitu, a.h. 703-716 (1304-1316)—Aim Said, a.h. 716-7,6
1 j.1 ^ I33S) The Pujjpet Il-Khans— The Jalayr Dynasty, a.h.
336-1411)—TheMuzaffarids,A.n. 713-795(1m-i uni
-The Karts of Herat, a.h. 643-79* («HJ-13*9). 3 1931
CHAPTER LIX
Tamerlane .
196
1.lo,<*
FAm?ofSTiana,in theT^it the ^tnu-etith Century- .The’
Tame of Tamerlane—His Birth in a.h, 736 (im) am| j?i|riv
LZSrHlS
S^missl,on t0 Timur Khan-His Ka2r v
Wandenngs-Tamerlane or “Timur the Lame"- The Rull i
of his Relations and Adherents-The Campaigns with Khoja 1 ,«
—The Struggle between Tamerlane and Amir Husayn, a it 76-
HI
(:frt3/9)-T,e $?»<!“*« of Jatah and of Klwrazi,^,
77ir78*.(t3«9-t38o)-The Surrender of Herat, a.h. 7*2 (, ,« i
^—Trhfe’I^ Siege Uof KI^ala3t)-~i-NTahdui riC aaTnd aoif? Tiarns hiz—Tho S*ht£an" «c\,m*»,
7
/ ne invasion of India, a.h, 800-801 fnnS
Samarcand—The D^th^T083^18" J‘,mbas3y *« the Court of
GWAPTER LX
The Timcrid Monarchs op Persia
216
Said, a.h. 8/5J87a^,7L,!^^^*hT* ^*™nomer-Kinj:-Abu
DG»sty~The “BlackSShMp6”DyMhstyLAL!V,’ *%toZ^^^th#r,BnJU
■ -The “White Sheep” Dtmastvfu 7 0 (*378-1469)
The Alliance of UzunP Ham wit?Venice-%Rile
K ““t
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER LXI
PAGE
Literature and Architecture under the Mongols 225
The Historians of the Early Mongol Period — The Later
Historians—Yakut, the Geographer—Nasir-u-Din, the Philosopher
and Man of Science—The Sufis or Mystics—Jalal-u-Din, Rumi
—Sadi—Hafiz—Jami—The Tomb of Khudabanda at Sultania—
The Shrine of the Imam Riza—The Mosque of Gauhar Shad—
The Madrasa at Khargird—The Mahun Shrine.
CHAPTER LXII
The Rise of the Safavi Dynasty .... 240
The Ancestors of the Safavi Dynasty—Ismail, the Founder of
the Dynasty, a.h. 905-930 (1499-1524)—The Defeat of the Uzbegs
by Shah Ismail, a.h. 916 (1510)—Shah Ismail and Baber—The
Final Defeat of Baber by the Uzbegs, a.h. 918 (1512)—The
Campaign of Selim the Grim, a.h. 920 (1514)—The Death of Shah
Ismail and his Character—Tahmasp, a.h. 930-984 (1524-1576)—
T5»he Invasions of Persia by Sulayman the Magnificent—The Fugi¬
tive Emperor Humayun—The Rebellion of Ilkhas Mir%a, a.h.
954-955 (1547-1548)—The Perso-Turkish Treaty of Peace, a.h.
962 (1555) — The Betrayal of Bayazid, son of Sulayman—The
Embassies of Anthony Jenkinson to Bokhara and Persia, a.d.
1558—1563—An Account of Persia by D’Alessandri, a.d. 1571—
Ismail II., a.h. 984 (1576)—Mohamed Khudabanda, A.H. 985
(1578).
CHAPTER LXIII
Shah Abbas the Great . . . . .256
Shah Abbas I., a.h. 985-1038 (1587-1629)—The Turkish,
Invasion, a.h. 995-998 (1587-1590)—The Uzbeg Invasions—The
^Temporary Abdication, a.h. xooo (1591)—The Arrival in Persia
of the Sherley Brothers, a.d. 1598—The Reorganization of the
Persian Army—The Formation of the Shah Savan Tribe—Sir
Anthony Sherley as Ambassador—The Successful Campaigns
against Turkey, a.h. 1011-1036 (1602-1627)—The Embassies
of Sir Robert Sherley—The Administrative Genius of Shah Abbas
—His Encouragement of Pilgrimages—His Domestic Life—His
Death and Character.
CHAPTER LXIV
The Struggle for Asc^dancy in the Persian Gulf 269
The Effect on History of Rounding the Cape of Good Hope
—The Importance of Hormuz—The First Portuguese Expedition
HISTORY OF PERSIA
XU
* * tt™,,*, a n t^7-The Persian Demand for Tribute—
TheFailure of the Expedition-The Final.Occupation of .Homm
bv the Portuguese, a.d. 1515—The Beginning of English M.u ituiu.
Intercourse with the East—The First English Attempt to trade
with Persia by Sea, a.d. x6t4—The Tourney o
1616-1617—The Persian Question of the Period—The Spanish
Embassy to Persia, 1618-1619—The Battle ot Jask, a.d. he
Capture of Hormuz by an Anglo-Persian Expedition, a.d. t6ii -
The Dutch—The French—The Embassy ot Sir Dotlmore Cotton
to Shah Abbas, a.d. 1627—The Fortunes of the British.
CHAPTER. LXV
Architecture and Art under the Safavi Dynasty »
Isfahan, the Safavi Capital—The Royal Square The
Royal Mosque — The Ala Kapi —-The Chehel Sutun*y *
Chahar Bagh—The Madrasa-i-Shah Husayn—The Bndgv ot
Allah Verdi Khan-—1Tiles—Pottery—Carpet8-*-Painti«fi:*--Mvtai
Work,
CHAPTER LXVI
The Decline of the Safavi Dynasty
The Cause of the Decline—Shah Safi, a.h. 1038 105* (1629
1642)—The Holstein Embassy, 1637—The Uzbega—The Cup
ture of Hamadan by the Turks, a.h. 1039 (1630)—*The Rrivon
Campaign, a.h. 1045 (x^35)—The Capture of Baghdad, a.h,
1048 (1638)—Abbas II,, a.h. to52~io77 (1642-1667)—The
Uzbeg Refugees—The First Russian Embassy to Persia, a.h. 1664
—Sulayman, a.h. *077-110$ (1667-1694)—-The Accession ot
Shah Sultan Husayn, a.h. 1105 (1694)—The Embassies of Peter
the Great, a.d. 1708 and xyi<—The Failure in the Persian
Gulf.
CHAPTER LXVII
The Ghilzais of Kandahar ,
A Sketch of Afghanistan—Its Inhabitants—The Province of
Kandahar—The Ghilzais—The Appointment of Gurgin Khan—
Mir Vais — The Murder of Gurgin Khan and the Massacre
of the Persian Garrison, a.h. uzi (1709)—The Consolidation of
Power by Mir Vais—His Two Victories over Persian Armies—
Mir Abdulla, a.h, 1128-1130 (1715-1717)—The Rise of the
Abdalis of Herat.