View source for Farighunids

{{short description|Early medieval Iranian dynasty that ruled northern Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox country
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name = Farighunids
|common_name = Farighunids
|era = [[Middle Ages]]
|status = Client of the [[Saffarids]], [[Samanids]] and the [[Ghaznavids]]
|government_type = Monarchy
|year_start = 9th-century
|year_end =1010
|event_start = 
|date_start = 
|event1 = 
|date_event1 = 
|event2 = 
|date_event2 = 
|event_end = [[Ghaznavid]] conquest
|date_end = 
|p1 =
|s1 = Ghaznavids
|image_flag = 
|flag_type =
|flag = 
|image_coat = 
|symbol_type = 
|symbol = 
|image_map =
{{Location map+
|West Asia
|float      = center
|width      = 280<!--  DO NOT CHANGE MAP SIZE (280) AS THIS WILL DISPLACE THE LABELS  -->
|caption    = 
|nodiv      = 1
|mini       = 1
|relief=yes
|places     =
{{location map~ |West Asia |lat=35||N |long=64.75|E |label=Guzgan|position=bottom |label_size=70|mark=Brown Line buttun.PNG|marksize=12}}
}}
|image_map_caption =
|capital = [[Maymana|Yahudiyya]]
|common_languages = [[Persian language|Persian]]
|religion = [[Sunni Islam]]
|currency = 
|title_leader =
|leader1 = 
|year_leader1 =
|leader2 = 
|year_leader2 =
}}
The '''Farighunids''' were an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] dynasty that ruled [[Guzgan]] (modern-day northern [[Afghanistan]]) in the late 9th, 10th and early 11th centuries. They were ultimately deposed by the ruler of the [[Ghaznavid Empire]], [[Mahmud of Ghazni|Sultan Mahmud]] ({{reign|999|1030}}).

== Background ==
According to the unknown author of the ''[[Hudud al-'Alam]]'', the Farighunid family descended from the legendary Iranian king [[Fereydun|Afridun/Faridun]].{{sfn|Davud|2018}} The English historian [[Clifford Edmund Bosworth]] suggests that the Farighunids had ancestral ties with the [[Afrighids]], the ruling dynasty of [[Khwarazm]].{{sfn|Davud|2018}} This is possibly supported by the fact that some chronicles refer to the Afrighids as the "Al Farighun of Kath".{{sfn|Davud|2018}}

==History==
[[File:Transoxiana 8th century.svg|thumb|right|300px|alt=Geophysical map of southern Central Asia (Khurasan and Transoxiana) with the major settlements and regions|Map of [[Khurasan]] and [[Transoxiana]]]]
The first Farighunid amir mentioned is [[Ahmad ibn Farighun]]. Ahmad, together with the [[Banijurids]], was compelled to recognize the [[Saffarid dynasty|Saffarid]] [[Amr ibn al-Layth]] as his suzerain. Only a short time afterwards, Amr ibn al-Layth was defeated and captured by the [[Samanids]]; Ahmad transferred his allegiance to them around this time.{{sfn|Haarmann|1996|p=12}} Later Ahmad married his daughter to his Samanid sovereign [[Nuh II]].{{sfn|Dunlop|1965|p=799}} The Farighunids would remain Samanid vassals until the end of the 10th century. Ahmad was succeeded by his son [[Abu'l Haret Muhammad]], whose reign marked the apex Farighunid authority and influence. The chiefs of the neighbouring regions of [[Gharchistan]] and [[Ghur]] acknowledged his overlordship.{{sfn|Haug|2015}}

Abu'l Haret died probably some time after 982, and his son [[Abu'l Haret Ahmad]] was drawn into the conflicts that took place within the Samanid amirate during its decline. He was ordered by his suzerain Nuh II to attack the rebel Fa'iq Khassa, but was defeated by him.{{sfn|Dunlop|1965|p=799}} The Farighunids developed marriage alliances with the [[Ghaznavids]]; Abu'l Haret's daughter had married [[Mahmud of Ghazna|Mahmud]], while Mahmud's sister had married Abu'l Haret's son [[Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad]].{{sfn|Dunlop|1965|p=799}} Abu'l Haret assisted [[Sabuktigin]]'s forces at [[Herat]] against Fa'iq and the [[Simjurids]], a battle in which the Ghaznavids and Farighunids were victorious. The Ghaznavids soon afterwards supplanted the Samanids in [[Greater Khorasan|Khurasan]], and the Farighunids become Ghaznavid vassals.{{sfn|Haarmann|1996|p=12}}

Abu'l Haret died in c. 1000 and Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad succeeded him. Abu'l-Nasr enjoyed the confidence of Mahmud of Ghazna; in 1008 he fought in the center of the Ghaznavid line against the [[Karakhanids]] near Carkhiyan{{sfn|Dunlop|1965|p=799}} and in the following year escorted Mahmud during his campaign in [[India]].{{sfn|Dunlop|1965|p=799}} He also married off a daughter to Mahmud's son [[Muhammad of Ghazni]]. When Abu'l-Nasr died in around 1010, Muhammad took over the rule of Guzgan, even though Abu'l-Nasr had left a son, Hasan. This marked the end of Farighunid rule.{{sfn|Bosworth|1984|pp=756–758}}

==Cultural significance==
The Farighunids had a significant impact of many prominent individuals in the arts and sciences at the time.{{sfn|Bosworth|1984|pp=756–758}} Two great poets, [[Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadani]] and [[Abu al-Fath al-Busti]], addressed poems to them, and the author of the ''Hudud al-'Alam'', the first geographical treatise to be written in [[New Persian]], dedicated the work to Abu'l Haret Muhammad in 982/3.{{sfn|Bosworth|1984|pp=756–758}} The Farighunids may also have had connections with the encyclopedist [[Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Khwarizmi]] and another encyclopedist named [[Sha'ya ibn Farighun]], who wrote the ''Jawame' al-'ulum'' for the [[Muhtajids|Muhtajid]] amir [[Abu Ali Chaghani]].{{sfn|Bosworth|1984|pp=756–758}}

== Geography ==
The historical region of Guzgan bordered [[Tukharistan]] to the east; to the south, it bordered Ghur; to the west it bordered Gharchistan and [[Marw]]; to the north, the [[Oxus River]] served as its boundary.{{sfn|Davud|2018}} The capital of the Farighunids was [[Maymana|Yahudiyya]], while Anbar—the largest city in Guzgan—served as the seat of the Farighunid amirs. Kundarm and Qurzuman were other major hubs of Guzgan.{{sfn|Davud|2018}}

==List of Farighunid amirs==
*[[Ahmad ibn Farighun]]
*[[Abu'l Haret Muhammad]]
*[[Abu'l Haret Ahmad]]
*[[Abu'l-Nasr Muhammad]]

==See also==
*[[List of Sunni Muslim dynasties]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume = 1 | fascicle = 7 | last = Bosworth | first  = C. E. | title =  Āl-e Farīḡūn | url = https://iranicaonline.org/articles/al-e-farigun-a-minor-iranian-dynasty-of-guzgan- | pages = 756–758}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Islamica|last1=Davud|first1=Seyyed Ali Al-i|year=2018|title=Farīghūnids (Āl-i Farīgh)|doi=10.1163/1875-9831_isla_COM_036096}}
*{{EI2 | volume=2 |title=Farighunids |first=D.M. |last=Dunlop |pages=798–800}}
*{{cite book |title=Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts |editor-first=Ulrich |editor-last=Haarmann |volume=15  |publisher=Brill |year=1996  }}
* {{EI3|last=Haug|first=Robert J|year=2015|title=Farīghūnids|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/farighunids-COM_26983}}

{{Central Asian history}}
{{Rulers of the Ancient Central Asia}}

[[Category:Farighunids| ]]
[[Category:Guzgan]]
[[Category:1010s disestablishments in Asia]]