The Annazid or Banu Annaz or Al-Anazis were a KurdishSunni Muslimdynasty that ruled a territory on the present-day Iran-Iraq frontier that included Kermanshah, Ilam, Hulwan, Dinawar, Sharazour, Daquq, Daskara, Bandanijin, and No'maniya . According to the Kurdish historySherefname, the title of the dynasty was Ayyar not Annaz, therefore the alternative name Ayyarid is also used.
Annazid rulers
Abul-Fath Mohammad bin Annaz was the founder of the Annazid dynasty and ruled in Hulwan. Political conflicts during his twenty-year rule led to clashes in the west with the Arab clans Banu Oqayl and the Banu Mazyad, as well as a campaign against Zahman bin Hendi, lord of Khanaqin, whose family he destroyed in 999. In the east, there was fierce competition between him and the HasanwayhidKurds. In 1006, Badr bin Hasanuya aided by Abul-Hassan Ali bin Mazyad, sent an army of 10,000 men against Abul-Fath, who was compelled to seek refuge with the Buyidvizier, Amid-al-Joyus Abu Ali Hassan bin Abi Jafar in Baghdad. In a treaty concluded that year between the two Kurdish dynasties, Abul-Fathdeclared himself a Hasanwayhid vassal. Hosam-al-Dawla Abul-Shawk was son of Abul-Fath Annaz. His thirty-six-year rule was filled with internecine strife as well as externalconflict. As a result, the extent of his authority grew a great deal, sometimes reaching as far as Hilla and at other times contracting to a narrow region in present-day western Iran. He inaugurated his reign by checking an attack by the forces of the new Buyid vizier, Fakhr-al-molk, but he was compelled to retreat to Hulwan until a reconciliation was achieved. In 1029, he managed to defeat Shams-al-Dawla and stop the Seljuk Turks, after they seized Hamadan and attacked Dinawar and Asadabad. In 1029, Abul-Shawk defeated the Oqayl and took Daquq. In the period 1038–1039, he seized Kermanshah and captured its ruler. In 1040, his son Abul-Fath Abul-Shawk tried to capture territories belonging to Mohalhel but was defeated and captured. Mohalhel secured assistance from Ala-al-Dawla bin Kakuya, the ruler of Hamadan, and then he seized Dinawar, Kermanshah, and other regions. Relations between Abul-Shawk and Mohalhel improved following the intervention of Jalal-al-Dawla, but Mohalhel's refusal to release Abul-Fath bin Shawk led to renewed hostilities in 1040 and 1042, but he failed to release his son, who died in captivity. During the second campaign in 1042, Mohalhel caused great damage in Sanda. In 1045, Toghrul Begsought to capture Annazid territories. During the campaign, the Kurdish governor of Hamadan fled, and Abul-Shawk retreated from Dinawar to Kermanshah and then to the citadel of Sirwan, on the Diyala river, where a large number of Kurds rallied around him. Annazids were unable to stop the march of the Turks, which captured Hulwan and Mahidasht and attacked Khanaqin. Abul-Shawk died in the citadel of Sirwan in April 1046. His followers rallied around Mohalhel.
Mohalhel
The strife between the Annazid chiefs continued during Mohalhel regime, especially when Sa'di bin Abul-Shawk sided with Yenal against his uncle. Yenal seized Hulwan in 1046 in the name of Hasanwayhid Badr bin Taher bin Helal. After four years of reconciliation between the Annazids and the Seljuk, Mohalhel met Toghrul Beg in 1050, who confirmed his rule over Sirwan, Daquq, Sharazor and Samagan and released his brother Sokrab.
Decline of Annazids
A declining Annazid rule can be traced for several generations. The last mention occurs in the second half of 12th century, when Surkhab III ibn Annaz became one of the rulers of Lorestan. According to the Kurdish historianAli ibn al-Athir and Sharafnama, the Annazid era lasted 130 years.
