Al-Rawwad ibn al-Muthanna al-Azdi

Rawwad ibn al-Muthanna al-Azdi, (also spelled Rawwad Mussana ) was an Arab military leader and governor in the 8th century under the Abbasid Caliphate. He was known for his role in the conquest and subsequent governance of the Iranian region of Azerbaijan.

Biography

At the start of the Abbasid period, Rawwad b. Muthanna held a fief that included the city of Tabriz. He is believed to have lived during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Abu Jaʿfar al-Manṣur (754—775). During this time, Yazid b. Ḥāṭem Mohallabi, the Abbasid governor of Azerbaijan, relocated Yemeni tribesmen from Basra to Azerbaijan. Among these tribesmen, Rawwad settled near Tabriz and gained control over lands as far as the town of Bad (modern Qarajadaq), northeast of Ahar.

Baladuri and Ibn al-Faqih credit Rawwad and his son Wajna with the construction work in Tabriz, including its fortifications. Abbasid 13th century calligrapher Yaqut also mentions the building efforts in Tabriz, but incorrectly links Rawwad to the time of al-Mutawakkil, likely due to the fact that some of the city's structures were also attributed to that Abbasid caliph.

Legacy

Rawwad ibn al-Muthanna al-Azdi is considered the progenitor of the Rawwadid dynasty. After taking control of a fief that included Tabriz at the start of the Abbasid period, he established a strong presence in the region.