92 E. E. Oliver —Decline of the Sdmanis and the Rise of the [No. 2, 
Na9r I 261—279 H. 
A man described as of many virtues, but of weak and suspicions 
nature, who to a great extent was indebted to the support of a younger 
brother, Isma’il, for the establishment of his throne. The dynasty of 
the Tahiris* had closed with the deposition of Muhammad (a) in 259 H. 
but there were still powerful members of the family, who with others 
were rival claimants to the Samani family lands. Husain bin Tahir(5) 
had been plundering and laying waste Bukhara. Ya’kiib bin Lais(c), 
Saffari, had among other successes taken Hirat in 256-7 H. Hishapur 
and Bukhara in 259 H., and the inhabitants of all these territories 
were split up into innumerable parties. Especially was this the case 
in Bukhara where certain of the nobles applied to Nasr for protec¬ 
tion. Isma’il was forthwith despatched and made his entry as Nasr’s 
representative in 260 H., the latter’s name being forthwith substituted 
in the Khutbah (Friday prayers) and Sikkah (money issue) for that of 
Ya’kub bin Lais. The government of the territory was formally con¬ 
ferred on Isma’il in 261, who became universally popular, his popularity 
being materially increased by a severe defeat inflicted on Husain bin 
Tahir who had advanced on a fresh plundering expedition. He was too 
popular in fact to please Hasr, who now tried to depose him, and was 
only prevented by the intervention of mutual friends. Hasr still jealous 
and suspicious, soon sought new cause of quarrel and in 272 H. moved 
against his brother with a large army. Isma’il was joined by his 
friend and ally Rafi’ bin Harsamah who had been made the deputy 
governor of the Khalifah in Khurasan.f For the time being hostili¬ 
ties were avoided and in 273 Rafi’ managed to patch up a peace, but 
within 15 months the quarrel was revived and a fierce and obstinate battle 
* The Genealogy of the Tahiris was as follows ; 
I. Tahir-zu-l-Yaminain (of the two right hands) 205—207 H. 
1 Governor of Khnrasan after Ghassan bin ’Ubbad 
II. Talhah 207—213 
At Bukhara, Bust, &c. 
III. 'Abd-Ullah 213—230 
’AH 
I 
Mus’ab 
Nishapur 
Nishapur &c. Some time deputy for III. 
I 
IV. Tahir 230—248 SuHman 
’Ajam, Merv, &c. Tabaristan 
I I 
(!>) Husain (a) Y. Muhammad 248—259. 
Khwarazm Bukhara, &c. Defeated and deposed by Ya^kub 
bin Lais 259 H (c) 
t Deputy to Muhammad bin Tahir. 
