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TYRANT COLLECTION
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265
Buwayhids
Gold Dinar, AH 335
Mu’izz al-Dawla Ahmad, Buwayhid Amir in Iraq, AH 334-356/AD 946-967
Treadwell Ms335b; A 1542.1. Extremely Fine.
Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) mint. ‘Abbasid-style legends, naming Mu’izz al-Dawla Abu’l-Hasan Bu-
wayh; Reverse, names of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Muti’ Lillah and Buwayhid overlord ‘Imad al-Dawla
Abu’l-Hasan Buwayh.
The Buwayhid amir Muizz-Al Dawla (AH 334-356/AD 946-967) deposed the ‘Abbasid caliph
al-Mustakfi and replaced him with al-Muti’ (AH 334-363/ AD 946-974). Al-Muti’ was caliph only in
name. The power of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate was at its lowest point and never fully recovered from the
conquest of Baghdad by the Buwayhids. On their coins, the Buwyahids styled themselves “Shahanshah”
(King of Kings), a title used by the former Sasanian emperors. Sebuk-Tegin, who was Mui’zz’s senior
Turkish officer, was influential in creation of the Great Seljuq dynasty. Although the Buwayhids were
Shi’ites, they maintained a degree of Islamic unity by recognizing the ‘Abbasid Caliph as the spiritual
leader of the Muslim community although he no longer exercised temporal authority. A parallel can be
observed with the role of the Roman Catholic Pope in modern Christianity.
266
Buwayhids
Gold Dinar, AH 358
‘Izz al-Dawla Bakhtiyar, Buwayhid Amir in Iraq, AH 356-367/AD 967-978
Treadwell Ms358G; A 1556. Nearly Mint State.
Madinat al-Salam (Baghdad) mint. ‘Abbasid-style legends, naming ’Izz al-Dawla Abu Mansur Buwayh;
Reverse, name of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Muti’ Lillah and Buwayhid overlord Rukn al-Dawla Buwayh.
Rare.
‘Izz al-Dawla (AH 356-367/ AD 967-978) was the son of Mu’izz al-Dawla and came to power following
his father’s illness and death. As the result of a major dispute with his cousin ‘Adud al-Dawla who had
become overlord of the entire Buwayhid family, ‘ al-Dawla allied himself with the Hamdanids of Syria
against ‘Adud al-Dawla. In the battle that ensued, ‘Izz al-Dawla was defeated, arrested and subsequently
executed.