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
Domain of the Atabegs of Yazd ( ) and neighboring polities in the 14th century
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

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]

In 1272, the Italian explorer Marco Polo passed through Yazd on his way to China.^[3] He referred to Yazd as a "Noble City" that was safe and busy with trade, and functioned like a "desert port" on the "caravan route".^[4] The city was then a major silk-weaving center, and Marco Polo wrote about its fine silk.^[3] In the book The Travels of Marco Polo, he wrote:

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

Concerning the Great City of Yasdi. It is a good and noble city, and has a great amount of trade. They weave there quantities of a certain silk tissue known as Yasdi, which merchants carry into many quarters to dispose of. When you leave this city to travel further, you ride for seven days over great plains, finding harbour to receive you at three places only. There are many fine woods producing dates upon the way, such as one can easily ride through; and in them there is great sport to be had in hunting and hawking, there being partridges and quails and abundance of other game, so that the merchants who pass that way have plenty of diversion. There are also wild asses, handsome creatures. At the end of those seven marches over the plain, you come to a fine kingdom which is called Kerman.^[5]

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.^[6]

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