Languages Persian Government Monarchy Historical era Middle Ages | Religion Sunni Islam 889–901 Muhammad ibn Abi'l-Saj | |
 | ||
Capital Maragha
(889-901)
Ardabil
(901-929) 928–929 Abu'l-Musafir al-Fath (last) | ||
The Sajid dynasty (Persian: ساجیان), was an Islamic dynasty that ruled from 889-890 until 929. Sajids ruled Azerbaijan and parts Armenia first from Maragha and Barda and then from Ardabil. The Sajids originated from the Central Asian province of Ushrusana and were of Iranian (Sogdians) descent. Muhammad ibn Abi'l-Saj Diwdad the son of Diwdad, the first Sajid ruler of Azerbaijan, was appointed as its ruler in 889 or 890. Muhammad's father Abi'l-Saj Devdad had fought under the Ushrusanan prince Afshin Khaydar during the latter's final campaign against the rebel Babak Khorramdin in Azerbaijan, and later served the caliphs. Toward the end of the 9th century, as the central authority of the Abbasid Caliphate weakened, Muhammad was able to form a virtually independent state. Much of the Sajids' energies were spent in attempting to take control of neighboring Armenia. The dynasty ended with the death of Abu'l-Musafir al-Fath in 929.