Mumehhiduddevle

Mumehhiduddevle (Ebû Mansûr Saîd b. Mervân) is one of the rulers of the Mervânî dynasty, centered in Meyyâfârikîn.

Establishment of the Dynasty

Ebû Ali el-Hasan b. Mervân, considered the true founder of the state, was killed by a person named Ebû Tâhir Yûsuf b. Dimne while entering the city of Âmid from Bâbu'l-Mâ (Dicle Kapısı) on 4 Zilkade 387 (November 8, 997), and many soldiers accompanying him were also massacred. The dynasty is based on the children of Mervân b. Kek, his brother-in-law, who took over the administration after Bâz's murder; Mervân was originally from Kurmâs Köyü, located between Siirt and Maden (Volume 1, p. 130).

His Reign and Construction Activities

After Ebû Ali el-Hasan was killed in Âmid, his advisor Mem brought his body to Meyyâfârikîn and declared Ebû Mansûr as ruler with the title Mumehhiduddevle. Mumehhiduddevle Saîd, who had previously served as governor of Cizre, came to Meyyâfârikîn and ascended the throne approximately three days after Ebû Ali's murder. After ascending the throne, he began to develop the capital, Meyyâfârikîn; first, he renovated the city walls, rebuilt the central gate which was on the verge of collapse in 396/1005, and had fruit trees brought from Baghdad planted in the city's gardens in 397/1006. He was assassinated on 5 Cemâziye'l-Evvel 401 (December 15, 1010) (Volume 1, p. 130).

Ibn Shaddad's Testimony

Architectural initiatives in Meyyâfârikîn are also associated with his name; Ibn Shaddad, referring to the construction activities carried out by the Mervânîs in the city, states that Mumehhiduddevle Ebû Mansûr Saîd b. Mervân repaired the city's walls and gates. Ibn Shaddad also lists the architectural works he claimed to have seen with his own eyes in Meyyâfârikîn: markets of different types and sizes, city gates, towers, squares, scattered hammams, monasteries (churches), a Grand Mosque, approximately 200 mosques of various sizes, and Shafi'i, Hanafi, and Hanbali madrasahs belonging to three schools of thought are among them (Volume 2, p. 100).