[1] He took part in the unsuccessful Alid uprising in 815 against the Abbasid Caliphate, led by Abu'l-Saraya, during which he captured and governed the city of Basra.
[2] According to al-Tabari, his reign was characterized by a pogrom against the supporters of the Abbasids, which earned him the nickname Zayd al-Nar ('Zayd of the Fire') due to the large numbers of houses belonging to Abbasid family members or their followers that he ordered torched.
[3] After the defeat of Abu'l-Saraya at Kufa, Basra held out for a while, until captured by the Abbasid general Ali ibn Abi Sa'id.
Zayd received a letter of safe passage from Ali, and surrendered to him.
[5] Before long, Zayd escaped his imprisonment, and rose again in revolt at Anbar in June 816, along with Abu'l-Saraya's brother.