The Nāṣirī Generations 29: IX. NUH, SON OF MANSUR, SON OF NUH, SAMANI.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 29
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IX. NUH, SON OF MANSUR, SON OF NUH, SAMANI.
29.1
His sons were Mansur, ’Abd-ul-Malik, and Muhammad. On the departure from this world of Amir Mansur, son of Nuh, they [the people] gave their allegiance to his son, Amir Abu-l-Kasim-i-Nuh, and raised him to his father’s throne. The Lord of the Faithful, Ut-Ta’i’u-L’illah, sent him a patent of investiture and a standard. The new ruler directed Fayik-i-Khasah, and Tash, the Hajib [chamberlain], to assume the command of his troops and the direction of military affairs. Abu-l-Hasan-i-Simjur, who was the son of a slave of this dynasty, and ruled, in the name of Amir Nuh, over parts of Khurasan, such as Hirat and Nishapur, and over the territory of Mawar-un-Nahr received the title of Nasir-ud-Daulah from the Amir, and the territory of Tus was added to the territories already held by him. The office of Wazir was conferred upon Abi-ul-Hasan-i-’Abd-ullah, son of Ahmad Al-’Utba; and Tash, the Hajib, was made head of the army, or commander-in-chief, with the title of Hisam-ud-Daulah. Kabus, son of Washm-gir, was made Wali [governor] of Gurgan, and he and other nobles were despatched along with Tash into 'Irak, in order to carry on hostilities against Buwiah son of Al-Hasan, son of Buwiah. They fought a battle before the gate of Gurgan and were defeated, and Tash, the Hajib, was overthrown and had to retreat.
29.2
After some time Tash and Abu-l-Hasan-i-Simjur, both of them, revolted; but, after some struggles, and victory over the Dialamah of the family of Buwiah, they both returned to their allegiance; and the command of Amir Nuh's forces, after some time, fell to Abi 'Ali, son of Simjur, and Nishapur was made over to him, and he received the title of 'Imad-ud-Daulah. In this reign likewise, Amir Abu Musa-i-Harun, I-lak Khan, determined to attack Bukhara, and Amir Nuh fled to Amul and kept in retirement. Abi 'Ali, son of Simjur, now began to act in a rebellious manner. I-lak Khan, after having succeeded in gaining possession of the country [Bukhara] and overthrowing the government, became greatly afflicted with haemorrhoids, and determined to retire into his own territory again. He sent for Amir 'Abd-ul-'Aziz, son of Nuh, son of Nasr, who was an uncle of Amir Nuh's, and presented him with a robe of honour, and made over the territory to him, after which he retired towards Turkistan. Amir Nuh, son of Mansur, brought assistance from the Turkmans, and set out in pursuit of I-lak Khan until he came up with him; but I-lak Khan faced about, and inflicted a defeat upon his pursuers before the gate of Samrkand; and on his way back to Turkistan the Khan died.
29.3
Amir Nuh returned again to Bukhara, and once more acquired strength; but, through the rebellion of Abu 'Ali-i-Simjur, the affairs of Khurasan had fallen into great disorder, and [to make matters worse] Amir Alb-Tigin had likewise died at Ghaznin, and Sabuk-Tigin had succeeded him there, and become very powerful. The people of Balkh, on account of the weak state of the Samani ruler's power, implored aid from Amir Sabuk-Tigin from the tyranny of Fayik-i-Khasah, and he had marched thither. Amir Nuh sent a sagacious person to him, and great graciousness and courtesy passed between them, and compacts were entered into. Amir Sabuk-Tigin came to Kash and Nakhshab, and Amir Nuh came out of Bukhara [to meet him], and they united [their forces], and afterwards marched into Khurasan to crush Abu 'Ali-i-Simjur. When they reached the confines of Tal-kan, the agents and instigators of the Karamitah and Mulahidah schismatics had arrived in that territory, and a great number of the people of those parts had listened to and accepted their doctrine. Amir Sabuk-Tigin laid hands upon the whole of them, and made holy war, as by orthodox institutes prescribed, [upon them], and obtained the title of Nasir-ud-din.
29.4
When Bu 'Ali-i-Simjur became aware that Amir Nuh and Sabuk-Tigin had set out towards Hirat, he left Nisapur and proceeded thither. Amir Nuh, on the day of the engagement between the two armies, gave up the command of the troops to Amir Sabuk-Tigin. When their forces encountered each other before the gate of Hirat, and, during the engagement, Dara, son of Kabus, son of Washm-gir, who was on the side of Abu ’Ali, deserted and went over to the other side; and Abu 'Ali was overthrown, through the misfortune of his having acceded, as well as most of the chief men of that territory, and his army also, to the exhortations of the Karamitahs, and having become contaminated with that heresy. He had founded a Masjid-i-Jami’, or great masjid, at Nishapur, intending, when it should be completely finished, that the Khutbah should be read there for Mustansir-i-Misri. This victory was gained by Amir Nuh, son of Mansur, in the middle of the month of Ramazan, in the year 384 H.; and, after this success, the affairs of the province of Hirat were arranged by Amir Nuh, and he proceeded to the territory of Nishapur.
29.5
Abu 'Ali-i-Simjur now sought for peace; but, on his request not being acceded to, he left Nishapur, and set out towards Rai, and sent his son to Abu-l-Hasan, son of Buwiah. Amir Nuh was now left to return [to his capital]; and Sabuk-Tigin and his son, Amir Mahmud, were stationed at Nishapur; but, as Amir Nuh paused at Tus, Sabuk-Tigin despatched his son, Amir Mahmud, to the Court; and he was nominated to the command of the troops, and the title of Saif-ud-Daulah was conferred upon him, together with the government of Nishapur. Subsequently to this, Amir Nuh, son of Mansur, returned to Bukhara, leaving Balkh, Hirat, Nishapur, and the territory of Khurasan under the care of Amir Sabuk-Tigin and his son, Amir Mahmud, the latter of whom took up his quarters at Nishapur.
29.6
In the month of Rabi’-ul-awwal, 385 H., Abu ’Ali-i-Simjur came out of Gurgan, and advanced to Nishapur, with the intention of compelling Mahmud to relinquish it, and the people of the city espoused his cause. Mahmud, after much opposition and hard fighting, was defeated, for he had but a small force with him, and retired again to Hirat. Abu ’Ali-i-Simjur again gained possession of Nishapur, and continued there until Sabuk-Tigin, with a large army, advanced towards that place. Abu ’Ali moved forward towards Tus to oppose his advance, and there they encountered each other, and a severe and sanguinary battle ensued. Amir Mahmud made an attack upon the rear of Abu ’Ali’s army, and broke through his ranks, and overthrew Fayik, who was with him, and completed the defeat of Abu ’Ali’s army. Fayik retired to Bukhara, and there was thrown into confinement, and died. Amir Sabuk-Tigin proceeded to Balkh, and took up his quarters there; and Amir Mahmud returned again to Nishapur. At length, on Friday, the 13th of the month of Rajab, 387 H., Amir Nuh, son of Mansur, departed this life. His reign extended over a period of twenty-one years and nine months; and in this same year Amir Sabuk-Tigin also died.