Position of Abu-Ali Chaghani in military and political interactions of Samanids

Al -e- Muhtaj were one of the local rulers of Chaghanian region in upper part of the Oxus (Amu Darya) that had autonomy concurrent with period of Amir Ismaʽil Samani (279-295 AH) in their dominated area, i.e. parts of  Khorasan and Rey. This local dynasty as puppet of Samanids, had effective role in political and military power of that state. Honesty and courage of emirs of this clan, including Abu-Ali Chaghani, in political, military, and economic affairs of Samanid state caused them to gain most prominent governmental and military positions of Samanids. The main issue of the current research is to investigate Abu-Ali Chaghani’s political and military measurements and services and their impact on power of Samanid state. This paper is going to respond the following questions with a descriptive-analytic approach: first, how this dynasty could reach such prominent place and obtain confidence of Samanid statesmen; and second, what role it had in organization of Samanids’ army and military evolutions. The findings suggest that emergence and fall of Chaghanian is a milestone in Iran history; since by removing Chaghanian (especially, Abu-Ali), who were generalissimos of all Khorasan, from political and military posts of Samanids, the Iranian powers of popular and low social people were waned and diminished and this is one of the important factors of the Samanids downfall.