Annâzîler

The Annâzîler were a Kurdish dynasty that ruled in the Cibal region in western Iran between 381-511/990-1171. The name of the dynasty appears in different forms in sources: Historians such as Hilâl b. Muhassin es-Sâbî and İbnü'l-Esîr give the name as "Benû 'Annâz"; accordingly, 'Annâz, derived from the Arabic word 'Anz (goat), means goat owner, goat merchant, or goat shepherd. In contrast, İbnü'l-Cevzî, Hamdullah Müstevfî, and Şerefhan record the name as "Benû 'Ayyâr". If this discrepancy does not stem from erroneous transcription of similar-looking letters, it is probable that the dynasty was named in relation to the word 'eyar, a Kurdish word also seen in the nisba of some Kurdish figures (Vol. 1, p. 141).

Establishment

The dynasty was established during a period when the Abbasî state was weakening. Its founder was Ebü'l-Feth Muhammed b. 'Annâz eş-Şâzencânî el-Kürdî, known by the nisba eş-Şâzencânî (Vol. 1, p. 141). This rise coincides with a period when Kurdish dynasties were strengthening in the region; in the same era, Bedir, the emir of the Hasanveyh, had established complete dominance in centers such as Sâbûrhâst, Dînever, Ahvâz, Burûcerd, Esedâbâd, and Nihâvend with the support of the Büveyhî ruler Adudüddevle (Vol. 1, p. 121).

Peak of Power

The Annâzîler reached the peak of their power during the reign of Ebü'ş-Şevk. Taking advantage of the peaceful environment provided by marital ties, Ebü'ş-Şevk killed Tâhir b. Hilâl in a sudden attack and seized all the lands held by the Hasanveyh, especially Kirmanşah. His increasingly powerful army defeated Şemsüddevle, the Büveyhî ruler of Hemedan, in Kirmanşah; in 420/1029, he managed to stop the Oğuz Türkleri who besieged Hemedan and threatened Dînever and Esedabad, and the following year, he defeated the Ukayliler and captured Dakûka. However, Ebü'ş-Şevk's neglect of building political institutions and his frequent involvement in regional conflicts prevented him from establishing lasting sovereignty over the lands under his rule; during this period, an intense power struggle occurred among dynasty members (Vol. 1, p. 142).

Decline and End

After Tuğrul Bey entered Bağdat on December 18, 1055, and put an end to the Büveyhîs, a long period of Annâzî history remains obscure in sources. İbnü'l-Esîr, while narrating the events of 495/1102, records that Sürkâb b. Bedr, Mühelhil's grandson, captured Huftîzgân Kalesi, but lost his entire country except for Dakûkâ and Şehrezor after being defeated in a war with the Salgurlu Türkmenleri. Although Sürkâb later regained control of Huftîzgân, he died in 500/1107, and his brother Ebû Mansûr succeeded him (Vol. 1, p. 143). With the death of the dynasty's last ruler, Ebû Mansûr, who could not stop the advance of the Oğuz forces that captured Mâhideşt and attacked Hânekîn, in 511/1117, the Annâzî rule came to an end. According to İbnü'l-Esîr and Şerefhan, the Annâzî period lasted 130 years; intense struggles among the Hasanveyhler, Büveyhîler, Kâkûyîler, and Selçuklular prevented the establishment of political, social, and economic stability in the region throughout this period (Vol. 1, p. 147).

Sources

Among the primary sources for the political history of the Annâzî dynasty are İbn Miskeveyh's Tecâribü'l-Ümem ve Teʿâkibü'l-Himem, Hilâl b. Muhassin es-Sâbî's Kitâbü't-Târîh, İbnü'l-Esîr's el-Kâmil fi't-Târîh, İbnü'l-Cevzî's el-Muntazam fî Târîhi'l-Mülûk ve'l-Ümem, Hamdullah el-Müstevfî's Târîh-i Güzîde, and Şerefhân's Şerefnâme (Vol. 1, p. 147). Among these, the work of Büveyhî era historian Hilâl b. Muhassin es-Sâbî, covering the years 360-447/970-1055, holds special value due to the author's ability to witness numerous events and access official documents thanks to his position in the Büveyhî court; the work provides important information on the political history of the Annâzîs and especially their relations with the Ukaylîler and Mezîdîler (Vol. 1, p. 144).