The Bani-mazyad clan was a branch of Bani-Asad tribe which in 403 A.H. succeeded to establish the Shi'i emirate of Bani-Mazyad. The first emir of this emirate was Ali ibn Mazyad who assumed power through support of Buyid Sultan-ad-Dawlah. After him, his son, Nur-ad-Dawlah Dubais, came to power. Nur-ad-Dawlah's rule is divided into two parts: first, the Bani-Mazyad emirate in the Buyid period and second, the Bani-Mazyad emirate during the Seljuq period. In the first period, because of the Buyid weakness in Iraq, the Bani-mazyad power increased, but in the second period, because of the Sunni Seljuqs' domination of Iraq, the Bani-Mazyad hold on power was weakened considerably. Following Nur-ad-Dawlah, his son Baha'-ad'-Dawlah Mansur, succeeded his father with nominal power also. With Seif-ad-Dawlah Sidghah, one of the greatest emires of this dynasty, taking power in 479 A.H., the Bani-Mazyad emirate found new strength. Power struggle in the Seljuq dynasty after the assassination of Sultan Malekshah brought about the opportunity for Seif-ad-Dawlah to turn the Shi'i Bani-Mazayd emirate into a major power in Iraq. This article deals with the works of this great Shi'ah emir and his influence on the developments of the Seljuq period.
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