Examination of the Legitimacy of Al-e-Muzaffar Dynasty

This research is an attempt to examine the legitimate foundations of Al-e-Muzaffar dynasty (1292-1375 AD). Legitimacy means rational justification and rightness of the rulers to govern and the people's obedience to them. This issue is hold forth both in the continuity and survival of the states and their deterioration and downcome. It is well understood that for any given rule, legitimacy is of first priority because in the absence of that the rule is neither stabilized nor sustained. This research is aimed at identifying the legitimizing basis of this dynasty, clarifying modality of choosing them and their functions in consolidation, continuation and acceptance of Al-e-Muzaffar rulers. Implementing analytical-descriptive method, this research is carried out in the field of historical studies. Corollaries of the research indicated that though Muzaffarian kings took over the throne by force and prepotency and after the collapse of Ilkhanites and in the absence of political power, but they were aware that their own throne to be continued was in critical need to other foundations of legitimacy. Hence, in order to overpass the challenges derived from power deterioration, they sought to get over the challenges of legitimacy. As the remaining Ilkhanite emirs and by acquiring religious legitimacy and allegiance to the Abbasid caliphs in Egypt, they legitimized their own rule. To some extent they were also capable of acquiring Iranian legitimacy, legitimacy derived from security and justice and eventually that legitimacy which had its roots in considering all religious clusters.