The Sajid state

The decline of the Arab Caliphate at the end of the 9th century led to the establishment of independent and semi-independent states in the territory of Azerbaijan. During that period a new state founded by the Sajid dynasty emerged in the south (898-941). It was established by Muhammad ibn Abi’l-Saj Diwdad, Caliph`s Turkish commander originally from Ushrusana. The most peominent representative of the Sajids was Yusuf Ibn Abi’l-Saj, who managed to unite all the Azerbaijani lands within an independent state for the first time. The areas from Ani and Dvin in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east, from Zanjan in the south, to Derbent in the north became subject to the Sajids. In 941, Marzuban ibn Muhammad, son of the ruler of Daylam from the Salarid dynasty, put an end to the reign of the Sajids over Azerbaijan. Its capitals were Maraga and Ardebil.

«Azerbaijani states in history», Baku, 2012, p.82

 The Salarid state

The Salarid state (941-983) was founded by Marzuban ibn Muhammad in 941. During his reign the boundaries of the Salarids coincided with the boundaries of the most developed period of the Sajids. Having taken control over almost entire Azerbaijan, Marzuban ibn Muhammad confirmed his domination over Armenia as well and forced the Shirvanshahs, who previously paid taxes to the Sajids, to pay tribute to him. Thus, the borders of the territories subject to the Salarids reached Derbent in the north. The Ravvadid dynasty put an end to the Salarid state in 981. Its capital was Ardebil.

«Azerbaijani states in history», Baku, 2012, p.82

Ravvadid state

The Ravvadid state played an important role in the history of Azerbaijan for about one century since the end of the 10th century (983-1060 and 1107-1177) in the south of Azerbaijan. During the decline of the Salarid state circa 950s, Muhammad ibn Hussein, a representative of the Ravvadid dynasty seized some lands of Azerbaijan. In 956-957, he conquered Tabriz and its neighborhood. The wars culminating in the end of the 970s ended with the victory of Abulheija, son of Hussein over the Salarid ruler Ibrahim. Abulheija also succeeded in conquering the Salarid lands south to the River Arax and incorporated them to his possessions. During the marches of the Seljuqs to the Southern Caucasus, the territory of Ravvadid covered the entire Southern Azerbaijan. Upon the siege of Tabriz by the Seljuq Sultan Toghrul in 1060, Mamlan II declared himself a subject of Sultan. After losing their political power, the Ravvadids could not regain their might. Only 1107-1108 sources mention the ruler of Maragha Ahmadili ibn Ibrahim ibn Wahsudan ar-Ravvadid, who took control over the south-western lands of Azerbaijan. Following the murder of Ahmadili in the Caliph`s court in Baghdad in 1116-1117, the Ravvadid dynasty was wiped off history. Its capitals were Tabriz and Maragha.

«Azerbaijani states in history», Baku, 2012, p.83