Sepahbad, a Patron of Manuchehri Damghani

Manuchehri Damghani was one of the prominent composers of the 5th century AH/ 11th century. He moved from one state to another several times, joined various courts, and praised various high-ranking people for acquiring a patron who would accept him and his poetry and reward him greatly. He praised people from Qumis, Gorgan, Ray, and Ghaznavid courts. One of them is the patron that Manuchehri called “Sepahbad” in one of his poems. Some researchers have said that this Sepahbad is Manuchehr ibn Qabus, the king of the Ziyarid dynasty who ruled Gorgan at the time. Some others have claimed that the patron was one of the Sepahbads of northern Iran, not the king of the Ziyarid dynasty. This article tries to provide some information about the Sepahbads in North Iran based on Manuchehri’s poems and other available sources to suggest the possible patron of Manuchehri.Manouchehri Damghani, who is one of the prominent composers of the 5th century, has moved from one state to another several times, and he has joined various courts and praised various high-ranking people; in order to find an patron who would accept him and his poetry and reward him greatly. He praised people from Kumis, Gorgan, Ray and Ghaznavid court. One of these people is the one whom the poet called "Sepahbad" in one of his poems. Some researchers have said that this "Sepahbad" is the same Manouchehr bin Qaboos, the king of Ziyari dynasty who ruled Gorgan at.