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examine the Arabic chronicles hereafter men

tioned.

The great chronicle or "Táríkh of Tabri," the "Táríkh Ibn Athír," the Táríkh Ibn Kethír,' " 61

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and the 66 Táríkh Zahabi; "62 also the "Fatuhh of Ibn Aâsim Kúfi," 63 and the " Mustekesi,"6_ all these are in the Arabic language.

61 Respecting the three chronicles here mentioned, see pp. 13-17, 18.

62 ZAHABI-This writer, who was born in the year of Christ 1273, and died in 1347, composed a book entitled "The Meidán," and another (his principal work) the "Tarikh al Zahabi" or "Tarikh al Islám"

تاريخ الاسلام

comprised in twelve volumes. (See Hamaker's " Specimen Catalogi, &c." pp. 18, 19.)

63

This ancient Muselman writer فتوح ابن اعثم كوفي

(AASIM of Kúfah), and the Persian translator of his work, are thus noticed, under the title in HAJI KHALIFAH'S Bibliography, according to a MS. preserved in the British Mu

اعثم و هو محمد بن علي المعروف باعثم الكوفي و ترجمته seum AASIM and this person is Mu “ الاحمد بن محمد المستوفي

HAMMED BEN ALI, generally called AÂSIM AL KUFI—and the translator (of his Chronicle) was AHMED BEN MUHAMMED ALMASTOWFI." But different copies (in Sir William Ouseley's Collection) name the author ABÚ MUHAMMED

ابو محمد احمد بن اعثم الكوفي AHMED BEN AASIM AL KUFI احمد بن اعثم الكوفي or simply AHMED BEN ASTM ALI

The translation from Arabic into Persian appears to have

Among Persian historians we must consult, respecting those monarchs (the RASHIDI KHALÍFAHS), the Rauzet al Ahbáb," 65 the "Rauzet al Safá," the "Táríkh Alfi," the Tarjumah, or translation of IBN AÂSIM's work the "Fatuhh" before noticed,66 and the chronicle entitled the "Mukessed al Aksi fí Tarjumah al Mustekesi." 67 These works, here named, will afford sufficient information concerning those illustrious Khalifahs.

And if the reigns of the BENI OMMIAH and the BENI ABBAS families 68 be the object of our research, those Arabic works above mentioned will furnish ample accounts of them, except the “Táríkh Fatuhh" of AÁSIM KÚF1,69 and the " Mustekesi," neither of which chronicles furnish any anecdotes of those dynasties; but on this subject

been made in the year 596 (or of Christ 1200). Although the "Book of Victories" (" Kitáb Fatuhh") has been ascribed by many to AASIM of Kúfah himself, Sir W. Ouseley is convinced that the author was AASIM's son.-See a letter respecting the tomb of Daniel at Susa, in Persia, published in the Rev. Mr. Walpole's "Collection of Travels," vol. ii. p. 428.

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68 Of those illustrious dynasties. See the notes in pp. 5, 6, &c.

69 Already mentioned in p. 24.

the Persian "Táríkh Alfí" may be consulted with advantage.

Should our object be the history of Iránian or Persian kings, we must again refer to the "Rauzet al Safá" and the "Táríkh Alfi," more particularly respecting such dynasties as the DIALEMEH,70 the SELAJEKAH," the SAMANIAN, GHAZNAVIÁN,73 and KHUÁREZM SHAHÍAN 74 monarchs,

70 An Arabic plural, denoting those princes whom the Persians call DILEMIÁN, or the DILEMITES, as some European writers style them. Dilem (3) is a province bordering the Caspian Sea on the South.

71

(دیلم)

SELÁJEKAH, the SELJUKIANS, or SELGIUCIdes, as D'Herbelot calls them, were divided, according to that writer, into three branches-that of Irán, or Persia; of Kirmán ; and of Rúm. The two former began to reign about the year 429, (or of Christ 1037,) and ceased in 590 (that is, of the Christian era, 1193). The SELJUKIANS of Rúm began to reign in 480, and ceased in 700 (or from the year of Christ 1087 to 1300). See D'Herbelot in SELGIUKIAN.

72

lol SAMÁNIÁN. The nine princes of this dynasty, which began in the year 261 of the hejrah (or of Christ 874) and terminated in 388 (998), possessed, besides Transoxiana, most of those provinces which now constitute the Persian empire. They are styled SAMANIDES by many European writers.

غزنویان

78 or GHAZNEVIDES, as they are called by D'Herbelot, (GHAZNAVIAH in Arabic,) a dynasty comprehending fourteen princes, who reigned in Persia and India from the year

of whom the "Táríkh Kámel" of IBN ATHIR, already quoted, gives copious and detailed ac

counts.

Those who desire to peruse a circumstantial history of the SAFEVÍAH,75 or last race of the Persian kings, may derive satisfactory information from the "Habib al Siyar," before mentioned, in which is comprised, with various other records, an account of SHAH ISMAIL deduced nearly to the time of his death.

On the subject also of this sovereign and of his son SHAH TAHMASP," many anecdotes may be collected from the work entitled "Ahassan al Tuáríkh," composed by HASAN BEIG RÚMLÚ.79

384 or 387 (of Christ 994 or 997) until the year 539 or 542 (of the Christian era 1144 or 1147).

74

خوارزمشاهیان

KHUÁREZM SHAHIÁN. Of this powerful dynasty, which began A. H. 491, and lasted until 628, (or of the Christian era 1097 to 1230,) D'Herbelot enumerates nine sovereigns.

75 The Safevi or Sefevi dynasty, styled Soft or Sophy by some European authors. The kings of this race governed Persia from the year 1500 till about 1736, when they were overthrown by the usurper NADIR SHAH.

76

شاه اسمعیل

77

شاه طهماسب

78

A rare and valuable work, thus described احسن التواريخ

by Sir W. Ouseley in the Catalogue of his Oriental MSS. (No. 346) as the work of " HASAN RÚMLÚ, grandson of EMIR

Likewise from the "Táríkh Aâlum Árá,80 which contains, besides the histories of those two monarchs above named, an account of events that occurred in Persia after the time of SHAH TAHMASP,81 and when the imperial standard of SHAH ABBÁS, lately deceased, had been exalted, until the last days of that illustrious sovereign.

82

But the "Táríkh Âálum Árá" does not display much elegance of style; it is however a curious and useful chronicle, abounding with excellent information. I have not seen any other work that particularly relates to the SEFEVI transactions since the time of SHAH ABBAS.

84

And TAHER WAHID, 83 author of a chronicle entitled the "Táríkh" or History of SHAH ABBÁS THANI (or the Second), has furnished little more than a specimen of pleasing style, contenting himself with the mention of only some few im

SULTAN RÚMLÚ; (containing) the History of SHAH ISMAIL and his son SHAH TAHMASP, with notices of the sovereigns of RÚMIEH, the princes of JAGHATÁI, khans of the Uzbeks, learned men, vazírs, &c. that flourished in their times, from A. H. 900 (1494) to 985 (1577). A most curious and useful work, not only in history but geography, mentioning various places, rivers, mountains, castles, &c. little known. I have never seen another copy of this Chronicle."

79

80

81

حسن بيك روملو ( تاريخ عالم اراه شاه طهماسب : شاه عباس طاهر وحيد تاريخ شاه عباس ثاني

84

83

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