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Description
Mazyar son of Karen(800-839 AD) was a Persian Prince of Qarinvand Kingdom, a freedom fighter who tried to overthrow the Arab rule over Persia and restore Zoroastrianism in Iran in 9th century AD.

After the Fall of Sassanid Persian Empire in mid 7th century, the major part of mainland Persia fell into control of the new rising power, the Muslim Caliphate; the northen parts of Iran known as Tabaristan, due to its geografical features and fierce resistance of its people remained under control of local Iranian warlords for another two centuries.

In 819 AD the ruler of Bavandid Kingdom, Shahriyār son of Sherwin who ruled over Eastern parts of Tabaristan attacked the Qarinvand Kingdom, defeated Mazyar’s forces and captured him. Shahriyār ordered his execution, but Mazyar managed to escape and after hiding in the forest for a while, fled to Baghdad and took refuge at the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. With the aid of a Persian astronomer named Bizist son of Firūz, he convinced the Abbasid Caliph, al-Ma’mun of his usefulness, he converted to Islam and was given the name, Mohammad Mawlā Amir al-Mu’minin by the Caliph.

In 823 AD Mazyar was sent accompanied by Mūsā ibn al-Hafs with an army to Tabaristan to take back his lands. Shahriyār was already dead and succeeded by his son, Shapūr. They defeated Shapūr’s forces and killed him, following the event, they both became co-rulers of Tabaristan.

In 827 AD Mūsā died and succeeded by his son Muhammad, however Mazyar soon overthrew him and became the sole ruler of Tabaristan. He gave Zoroastrians more freedom to practise their religion, but his aggressive actions towards pro-Caliphate groups soon increased his unpopularity among the Muslim population. Afshin son of Kavūs, a Persian Abbasid general who had the ambition of ruling over Khorasan provinz, provoked Mazyar against the Tahirids of Khorasan. Mazyar began his campaign by attacking and counquering towns in Tabaristan he even managed to take its capital, Amol. Ma’mun who at the time was busy fighting against the Romans, couldn’t deal with him.

In 833 AD Ma’mun died and was succeeded by his brother Mu'tasim who immediately reinforced the Tahirids and sent Abdallah ibn Tahir, the ruler of Khorasan, with five armies to Tabaristan.

In 838 AD, Babak Khorramdin, another Persian freedom fighter in Azerbaijan and Mazyar’s ally, was killed. Mazyar also suffered several defeats by the Tahirid army. He was finally betrayed by his brother Qahyar, who informed the Tahirids of his location and finally was captured. Mazyar was sent to Baghdad and killed under torture, his body was gibbeted alongside the body of Babak.

Description
Mazyar son of Karen(800-839 AD) was a Persian Prince of Qarinvand Kingdom, a freedom fighter who tried to overthrow the Arab rule over Persia and restore Zoroastrianism in Iran in 9th century AD.

After the Fall of Sassanid Persian Empire in mid 7th century, the major part of mainland Persia fell into control of the new rising power, the Muslim Caliphate; the northen parts of Iran known as Tabaristan, due to its geografical features and fierce resistance of its people remained under control of local Iranian warlords for another two centuries.

In 819 AD the ruler of Bavandid Kingdom, Shahriyār son of Sherwin who ruled over Eastern parts of Tabaristan attacked the Qarinvand Kingdom, defeated Mazyar’s forces and captured him. Shahriyār ordered his execution, but Mazyar managed to escape and after hiding in the forest for a while, fled to Baghdad and took refuge at the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. With the aid of a Persian astronomer named Bizist son of Firūz, he convinced the Abbasid Caliph, al-Ma’mun of his usefulness, he converted to Islam and was given the name, Mohammad Mawlā Amir al-Mu’minin by the Caliph.

In 823 AD Mazyar was sent accompanied by Mūsā ibn al-Hafs with an army to Tabaristan to take back his lands. Shahriyār was already dead and succeeded by his son, Shapūr. They defeated Shapūr’s forces and killed him, following the event, they both became co-rulers of Tabaristan.

In 827 AD Mūsā died and succeeded by his son Muhammad, however Mazyar soon overthrew him and became the sole ruler of Tabaristan. He gave Zoroastrians more freedom to practise their religion, but his aggressive actions towards pro-Caliphate groups soon increased his unpopularity among the Muslim population. Afshin son of Kavūs, a Persian Abbasid general who had the ambition of ruling over Khorasan provinz, provoked Mazyar against the Tahirids of Khorasan. Mazyar began his campaign by attacking and counquering towns in Tabaristan he even managed to take its capital, Amol. Ma’mun who at the time was busy fighting against the Romans, couldn’t deal with him.

In 833 AD Ma’mun died and was succeeded by his brother Mu'tasim who immediately reinforced the Tahirids and sent Abdallah ibn Tahir, the ruler of Khorasan, with five armies to Tabaristan.

In 838 AD, Babak Khorramdin, another Persian freedom fighter in Azerbaijan and Mazyar’s ally, was killed. Mazyar also suffered several defeats by the Tahirid army. He was finally betrayed by his brother Qahyar, who informed the Tahirids of his location and finally was captured. Mazyar was sent to Baghdad and killed under torture, his body was gibbeted alongside the body of Babak.