Khuzayma ibn Khazim Institutes the Land Survey at Dabil and Nashwa

سنّ خزيمة بن خازم المساحة بدبيل والنشوى

between 775 and 833 CE

In al-Baladhuri: Armenia's Abbasid governors ran in succession — Uthman ibn Umada ibn Khurathim, then Rawh ibn Hatim al-Muhallabi, then Khuzayma ibn Khazim, then Yazid ibn Mazyad al-Shaybani, then Ubaydallah ibn al-Mahdi, then al-Fadl ibn Yahya, then Sa'id ibn Salm, then Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Mazyad; Khuzayma was the sternest of them in office, and it was he who instituted the land-survey at Dabil and Nashwa, which had not existed before. The Armenian patrikioses ever stayed in their lands, each guarding his district: when a march-governor arrived they surrounded him — if they saw continence and sternness in him while he had force and equipment, they paid him the kharaj and yielded obedience, but otherwise despised him and made light of his command; and Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazyad governed them in al-Ma'mun's caliphate, accepting their gifts and mixing them with his own person — that deed corrupted them and emboldened them against al-Ma'mun's governors who came after.

Overview

Al-Baladhuri lists the governors of Armenia for the Abbasids in succession, among them Rawh ibn Hatim al-Muhallabi, then Khuzayma ibn Khazim, then Yazid ibn Mazid al-Shaybani. He says that Khuzayma was the most severe of them in his governance, and that he was the one who introduced the survey at Dabil and al-Nashwa, which had not been made before. ¹ The events took place in Armenia and Dabil.

The patriarchs

The patriarchs of Armenia lived in their own lands, each protecting his district. When a governor's agent came, if they saw in him chastity, firmness and strength, they paid him the tax and obeyed him; otherwise they made light of his authority. ¹

The Mamun period

Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazid appointed them in the caliphate of al-Mamun, accepted their gifts and mixed with them himself. Al-Baladhuri says that this corrupted them and made them bold against the governors who came after him under al-Mamun. ¹

The date is approximate, between about 775 and 833 CE, and needs an additional source.

Armenia

Armenia in al-Baladhuri on two schemata: Shimshat, Qaliqala, Khilat, Arjish and Bajunays as the fourth Armenia; the Busfurrajan district, Dabil, Siraj Tayr and Baghrawand the third; Jurzan the second; and Sisajan and Arran the first — or, it is said, Shimshat alone the fourth; Qaliqala, Khilat, Arjish and Bajunays the third; Siraj Tayr, Baghrawand, Dabil and Busfurrajan the second; and Sisajan, Arran and Tiflis the first; Jurzan and Arran were in Khazar hands and the rest of Armenia in Roman hands under the lord of the Armeniakoi, while it had lain in Persian hands until Islam appeared, Anushirwan having confirmed the kings of Jabal al-Qabq on their kingdoms for tribute.

Khuzayma ibn Khazim Institutes the Land Survey at Dabil and Nashwa

At a glance

In time

Overview

The patriarchs

The Mamun period

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

Armenia