Kulū Isfandiyār () was the leader of the

Sarbadars The Sarbadars (from ''sarbadār'', "head on gallows"; also known as Sarbedaran ) were a mixture of religious dervishes and secular rulers that came to rule over part of western Greater Khorasan, Khurasan in the midst of the disintegration of ...

of Sabzewar from 1346 until around 1347.

Career

Kulu Isfandiyar was a military commander under

Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud Wajih ad-Din Mas'ud (died 1344) was the leader of the Sarbadars of Sabzewar from 1338-1343 until his death. Under his rule, the Sarbadar state developed its characteristic dual nature as both a secular and radical Shi'i state. Early Reign Mas'ud ...

and was one of his supporters. In 1346 was installed as head of state by Khwaja Shams al-Din 'Ali, the head of the pro-dervish party that had just overthrown and executed Muhammad Aytimur. Kulu Isfandiyar was considered to be a good compromise candidate; not only did the dervishes think highly of him, but his Bashtini origins (Mas'ud's family came from there) and his military credentials were thought to be sufficient to win over Mas'ud's supporters as well. Kulu Isfandiyar's reign, however, turned out to be short. The sources disagree on the nature of his downfall, but it is probable that the Bashtinis and the pro-Mas'udi factions of the army complained about the government's failure to pay them and used this as a pretext to overthrow Kulu Isfandiyar in late 1346/1347. Smith Jr.: pp. 128-129 His place was taken by Mas'ud's brother Shams al-Din ibn Fazl Allah.

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kulu Isfandiyar Sarbadars 1361 deaths Year of birth unknown