THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE GOVERNOR OF SIJISTAN, PRINCE KHALAF BIN AHMAD AL-SIJISTANI (350_399 AH / 961_1003 AD)

Abstract

Prince Khalaf bin Ahmed was born in the year (326 AH / 938 AD), and he is from a family of Persian origins. His lineage goes back on the mother’s side to the falconers who ruled the Islamic East after they took Sijistan as their capital. After several decades, Prince Khalaf bin Ahmed was able to take over with his cunning and political sophistication. And administrative, he ruled the province of Sijistan, as he continued to rule this region for several decades from (355 AH / 961 AD) to (393 AH / 1003 AD), as his rule ended at the hands of Sultan Mahmud al-Ghaznawi after the latter invaded the region in the year (393 AH / 1003 AD) and arrested its governor Khalaf bin Ahmed He exiled him to the city of Al-Jawzjan, then he passed the term for a year (399 AH / 1009 AD). The governor Khalaf was able to rule the city with fire and iron because of the large number of internal rebellions that directly affected political life, especially the conflict that took place between members of his family, as well as the external conflict. To secure his relations with the Samanids and the Ghaznavids, and to extend his authority to the cities of his neighboring regions, such as Kerman, Quhistan, and Busheng. However, this policy of his did not succeed and last, as it soon turned against him because of his misbehavior with his subjects, especially his sons.