Afrighids

Afrighid dynasty
305–995
Map showing the territory ruled by the Afrighid dynasty (highlighted in green), abutting the southern shore of the (former) Aral Sea
Map showing the territory ruled by the Afrighid dynasty (highlighted in green), abutting the southern shore of the (former) Aral Sea
CapitalKath
Common languagesOld Khwarazmian
Religion
Zoroastrianism (until the early 9th-century)
Sunni Islam (after the early 9th-century)
GovernmentMonarchy
Khwarazmshah 
• 305–???
Afrig (first)
• 967–995
Abu 'Abdallah Muhammad (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
305
• Ma'munid conquest of Khwarezm.
995
Succeeded by
Ma'munids

The Afrighids (Khwarazmian: ʾfryḡ) were a native Khwarezmian Iranian[1][2][3] dynasty who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Khwarazm. Over time, they were under the suzerainty of the Sasanian Empire, the Hephthalite Empire, the Göktürk Khaganate, the Umayyad Caliphate, Abbasid Caliphate and the Samanid Empire.

They were ultimately deposed by a rival family, the Ma'munids of Gurganj, who became the new rulers of Khwarazm.

  1. ^ Bosworth, C. E. "ĀL-E AFRĪḠ". Encyclopædia Iranica. Columbia University. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. ^ C.E. Bosworth, "The Ghaznavids" in History of Civilization: Central Asia in History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Volume IV: The Age of Achievement : A.D. 750 to the End of the Fifteenth Century : Part One : The Historical Social and Economic Setting/edited by M.S. Asimov and C.E. Bosworth. Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, 1999, 485 pages. (Vol. IV, Pt. I). ISBN 81-208-1595-5. Excerpt from page 101: "The ancient Iranian kingdom of Khwarazm had been ruled until 995 by the old established line of Afrighids of Kath, but control subsequently passed to the new line of Khwarazm Shahs, the Ma'munids of Gurganj"
  3. ^ Clifford Edmund Bosworth, The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual, Columbia University, 1996.