Fariburz I

Fariburz I
Shah of Shirvan
Silver dirham of Fariburz I. Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Baku.
Reign	1063 – 1096
Predecessor	Sallar
Successor	Manuchihr II
Died	1096 Shamakhi
Spouse	Daughter of the Saririan king
Issue	Manuchihr II Afridun I
House	House of Shirvanshah
Father	Sallar
Religion	Sunni Islam

Fariburz ibn Sallar (Persian: فریبرز بن سالار‎‎), better simply known as Fariburz I (فریبرز), was the sixteenth Shah of Shirvan, ruling from 1063 to 1096. His reign saw many major political balance changes in Caucasus, including expansion by the Seljuqs. He was considered a ruler with great diplomatic skills, and his kingdom extended from Mughan to Kumuk and Alania.

On 20 February 1063, Fariburz's father Sallar died, and thus Fariburz became the new ruler of Shirvan. Although he even already controlled most of the kingdom during his father's reign. In March, the Shaddadid ruler Abu'l-Asvar Shavur I invaded his domains, captured the Quylamiyan castle, and then withdrew back to Arran. However, some time later, he returned to Shirvan and once again began raiding it. The Shirvanians, who fought against him, were defeated and many of them were taken captive and had their riches taken. Shavur then marched towards the capital of Shirvan, Shamakhi.

There he seized many riches, captured the wife of Sallar, and then went back to Arran. On July, Shavur once again returned to Shirvan, where he had villages, crops, and houses destroyed. Fariburz, powerless to do anything, sent his son Afridun to gain aid from the ruler of Sarir, whom Afridun was related to through his mother. However, the ruler of Sarir declined his request, and after three months, Afridun returned to Shirvan. In January 1064, Shavur invaded Shirvan for the fourth time, where he seized several towns, and forced Fariburz to pay him 40,000 dinars. On June 1064 (or July), Shavur restored Quylamiyan to Fariburz in return of extra 40,000 dinars.

In 1065, the people of Derbent revolted and killed its ruler, the Hashimid Mansur ibn Abd al-Malik. However, unfortunately for the rebels, Mansur was a cousin of Fariburz and had good relations with him, which made him raise an army and attack Derbent in order to avenge him, destroying many villages around the city. A battle shortly ensured at a bridge, which resulted in the defeat and massacre of the rebels. Fariburz then plundered Derbent and withdrew back to Shirvan.