Afridun I

Afridun the Martyr was the eighteenth Shah of Shirvan.^[1] He was appointed governor of Derbent several times during his father's reign.

Early life

After having suffered from several raids from the Shaddadid ruler Abu'l-Asvar Shavur I, Afridun was sent by his father Fariburz I to ask for help from the ruler of Sarir, whom Afridun was related to through his mother. However, the ruler of Sarir declined his request, and after three months, Afridun returned to Shirvan.^[2] On 30 January 1066, Fariburz appointed Afridun as the governor of Derbent, who was warmly received by its people.^[3] On July 1068, Afridun left Derbent and returned to Shirvan.

Reign

Afridun's reign is one of dark pages of Shirvanshah history. It's known that he died in a battle against "infidels"^[4] and gained the nickname, "the Martyr". There is no any coin survived to this day bearing his name. He married his son Manuchehr to David IV's daughter - Tamar. He was unsuccessful against invasions from Georgia and killed near Derbent in 1120.

Legacy

His name is inscribed on Pir Husayn Khanqah located near river Pirsaat: "This building was ordered to be built by Abu'l Muzaffar Fariburz ibn Gershab, ibn Farrukhzad, ibn Manuchehr's ancestor Jam Afridun" ^[5] He is remembered by Khaqani in his ode to Ismataddin: "I saw jewels of Dara in the mines of Afridun the Martyr".^[6]

References

Sources

• Bosworth, C. E. (1968). "The Political and Dynastic History of the Iranian World (A.D. 1000–1217)". In Frye, R. N. The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 5: The Saljuq and Mongol periods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–202. ISBN 0-521-06936-X. 
• Minorsky, Vladimir (1958). A History of Sharvān and Darband in the 10th-11th Centuries. University of Michigan. pp. 1–219. ISBN 978-1-84511-645-3.