Atabegs of Yazd

The Atabegs of Yazd (Persian: اتابکان یزد, Atābakān-e Yazd) were a local dynasty that ruled the city of Yazd from approximately 1141 to 1319. They succeeded the Kakuyids, to whom they were linked by marriage.

Atabegs of Yazd Atābakān-e Yazd اتابکان یزد
1141–1319
Capital	Yazd (1141–1319)
Common languages	Persian
Religion	Islam
Government	Monarchy
Atabeg
• 1141–1188	Sam ibn Wardanruz
• 1315–1319	Hajji Shah ibn Yusuf Shah
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	1141
• Disestablished	1319
Preceded by Succeeded by Kakuyids Muzaffarids (Iran)

Dynasty

Mausoleum and madrasa in Yazd, known as "Alexander's prison", built in 1234 for the mausoleum and 1306 for the madrasa

The names of the first members of the dynasty indicate that they were seemingly ethnically Persian, but like the Hazaraspids they had accepted the Turkish title of Atabeg.^[1] Most of the Atabegs of Yazd were tributaries to the Seljuks and the Mongol Il-Khans until they were finally overthrown by the Muzaffarids.^[2]

Architecture

Various buildings are known from the period of the Atabegs of Yazd, such as "Alexander's Prison" (Zindan-i Iskandar), that takes its name from a poem by Hafez in which he speaks of the terrible conditions of detention. On the outside, there is can see a beautiful dome made of raw clay and decorated with plaster works and gold and blue paint. The architectural features of the dome can also be found in other domes dating back to the Ilkhanid period in Iran.^[3]

List of rulers

• Sam ibn Wardanruz (1141–1188)
• Langar ibn Wardanruz (1188–1207)
• Wardanruz ibn Langar (1207–1219)
• Isfahsalar ibn Langar (1219–1229)
• Mahmud Shah ibn Isfahsalar (1229–1241)
• Salghur Shah ibn Mahmud Shah (1241–1252)
• Toghan Shah ibn Salghur Shah (1252–1272)
• Ala al-Dawla ibn Toghan Shah (1272–1275)
• Yusuf Shah ibn Toghan Shah (1275–1297)
• Mongol occupation (1297–1315)
• Hajji Shah ibn Yusuf Shah (1315–1319)

Genealogy of House of Yazd

House of Yazd
Atabegs of Yazd Wardanruz Sam r. 1141–1188 Langar r. 1188–1207 Wardanruz r. 1207–1219 Isfahsalar r. 1219–1229 Mahmud-Shah r. 1229–1241 Salghur-Shah r. 1241–1252 Tughan-Shah r. 1252–1272 Ala ad-Dawla r. 1272–1275 Yusuf-Shah r. 1275–1297 Hajji-Shah r. 1315–1319