King Kawus's Affair and the Qahrman's Killing

Al-Baladhuri relates that Kawus, king of Ushrusana, asked al-Fadl ibn Sahl, the vizier of al-Ma'mun, for peace in return for a tribute, and was granted it. When al-Ma'mun came to Baghdad, Kawus refused to keep his word. ¹

Kawus had a close steward who married his daughter to al-Fadl ibn Kawus; he would bring al-Fadl near and disparage Haydar ibn Kawus, known as al-Afshin. Haydar rushed on the steward and killed him at the gate of their city, and fled to Hashim ibn Mahmud al-Khuttali, to write to his father to seek his pardon. ¹

When news of what Kawus had done reached him, Haydar showed Islam and came to Baghdad. He described to al-Ma'mun how easy the matter was in Ushrusana, and pointed him to a shorter road to it. ¹

The events took place in Ushrusana. The date of the incident is not given in the data.