Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D. candidate in Iranology, Shahid Beheshti University and Iranology Foundations
2 Professor in History, University of Tehran
Abstract
The collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate led to the expansion of the Shia religion. Many local governments also emerged in most of the regions of Iran after the fall of Il-khānids. The dynasties of Sādāt-e Kārkiyā and Marʾašiyān were born in Gilān and Māzandarān just in the same period. Malik Keyumars Ibn-e Bīsotūn (1404-1454), a famed ruler of Pādusbānians dynasty, came to the throne in Rūyān during this period. He changed his religion to Shia Imamieh after gaining the power and encouraged the people of Rustamdar to act like him. By adopting this policy and through unifying the religion of the people of Rustamdar and their neighbors, he strengthened the authority of the Badouspan dynasty and prevented the expansion of the Mara’shi and Karkia dynasties territory to this area. The study of the works produced in this period, especially the inscriptions made by his orders, are of special importance due to his effective role in spreading the Shiite religion in this region and his influence on the power relations between the local governments of Gilān and Māzandarān. Considering the importance of above-mentioned inscriptions in understanding the history of this period and the dynasty, the influence of the political and religious circumstances of Gilān and Māzandarān on the inscriptions of Malik Keyumars in 15th century is explored in present study through a historical viewpoint.
Keywords