Ibn Shirzad

[1] In June 937, Ibn Shirzad was imprisoned at the orders of Abu Abdallah al-Kufi, the secretary of the commander Bajkam, and not let free before he paid a ransom of 90,000 gold dinars.

[1] In 939, Ibn Shirzad mediated the appointment of the head of the Baridi clan, Abu Abdallah al-Baridi, as vizier under Bajkam as amir al-umara.

However, it appears that there was some understanding, or even friendship, between the two men, for Abu Abdallah al-Kufi restored the deeds to these lands to Ibn Shirzad after Bajkam's death.

[1][4] At Wasit, in June 943, Ibn Shirzad joined with the warlord Tuzun, who then held the position of amir al-umara, and became his katib (chief secretary).

[1] Following the departure of the Hamdanid troops, he re-emerged and began a regime that was portrayed by medieval chroniclers as one of despotism, corruption, famine and financial mismanagement, so that a gold dinar was worth as much as a silver dirham used to.

[6] Al-Ikhshid entreated the caliph to follow him to Egypt, but the latter refused, swayed by the solemn oaths sworn by Tuzun and Ibn Shirzad that he would not be harmed.

[9] He at first tried to have the Hamdanid, Nasir al-Dawla, who had previously held the office, reappointed, but failed as the troops insisted that Ibn Shirzad become amir al-umara.

[13] Ibn Shirzad immediately entered into Buyid service as katib of the new amir al-umara, now elevated de facto to a position similar to vizier.

[16] During the subsequent Hamdanid occupation of Baghdad,[17] he was appointed governor of the city, but fell under suspicion of conspiring with the Turkish troops and blinded by Nasir al-Dawla soon after.