Isma'il of Samanid

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Isma'il ibn Ahmad (d. November 907) was the Samanid amir of Transoxiana (892-907) and Khurasan (900-907). His reign saw the emergence of the Samanids as a powerful force. He was the son of Ahmad ibn Asad.

During his brother Nasr's reign, Isma'il was sent to take control of Bukhara, which had been devastated by looting on the part of forces from Khwarazm. The citizens of the city welcomed Isma'il, seeing him as someone who could bring stability.

Soon afterwards, a disagreement over where tax money should be distributed caused a falling out between Nasr and Isma'il. A struggle ensued, in which Isma'il proved victorious. Although he took effective control of the state, he did not formally overthrow his brother, instead remaining in Bukhara. He did so because Nasr had been the one whom the Caliph had given the formal investiture of Transoxiana to; in the caliph's eyes, Nasr was the only legitimimate ruler of the region. Furthermore, the Saffarids of Sistan had claims on Transoxiana; the overthrow of Nasr would have given the Saffarids a pretext for invading. Isma'il therefore continued to formally recognize Nasr as ruler until the latter's death in August of 892, at which point he officially took power.

Isma'il was active to the north and east, steadily spreading Samanid influence. In 893 he took the city of Talas, the capital of the Qarluq Turks. It was probably in that same year that he also brought an end to the Ustrushana dynasty. During his reign he subjugated numerous regional states to the east, directly incorporating some within his boundaries and retaining the local rulers of others as vassals. Khwarazm to the north was partitioned; the southern part remained autonomous under its Afrigid rulers, while the northern part was governed by a Samanid official. Another campaign in 903 further secured the Samanid boundaries. These campaigns kept the heart of his state safe from Turkish raids, and allowed Muslim missionaries to expand their activities in the region.

Even after Nasr's death, the caliph had still not formally recognized his rule in Bukhara. As a result, the Saffarid ruler 'Amr himself asked the caliph for the investiture of Transoxiana. Al-Mu'tadid, who allegedly hoped that a conflict between the Samanids and the Saffarids would result in the destruction of both, granted this request in 898. 'Amr then marched up north with an army. The two sides fought, often to the south of the Oxus, until in the spring of 900 'Amr was captured by the Samanids. Isma'il wished to ransom him to the Saffarids, but they refused, so he sent 'Amr to the caliph, who then invested Isma'il with Khurasan, Tabaristan, Ray, and Isfahan.

Isma'il decided to take advantage of the caliph's grant by sending an army to Tabaristan, which was then controlled by the Zaydid Muhammad ibn Zaid. The Samanid army defeated and killed Muhammad, but then Isma'il's general Muhammad ibn Harun revolted. In 901 Isma'il led an army into Tabaristan, forcing Muhammad to flee to Dailam. The Samanids therefore gained control of the region.

Although Isma'il continued to send gifts to the caliph, as was customary, he neither paid tribute or taxes. For all intents and purposes he was an independent ruler, although he never took any title higher than that of amir.

After a long sickness Isma'il died in 907 and was succeeded by his son Ahmad.