Thedehqân (/dɛəˈkɑːn,ˌdeɪ-/;Persian:دهقان[deɦˈɢɒːn],dihqân in Classical Persian) ordehgân (/dɛəˈɡɑːn,ˌdeɪ-/;Persian:دهگان[deɦˈgɒːn]) were a class of land-owning magnates during theSasanian and early Islamic period, found throughoutIranian lands.[1] Thedehqans started to gradually fade away under theSeljuks andQarakhanids, due to the increase of theiqta' (land grants) and the decline of the landowning class. By the time of their dissolution, they had played a key role in preserving the Iranian national identity. Their Islamization and cultural Iranianization of the Turks led to the establishment of the Iranian essence within the Islamic world, something which would continue throughout the Middle Ages and far into modern times.[2][1]
The termdehqân descended fromMiddle Persiandahigān meaning "countryman, peasant, villager" or "farmer".[3] The original meaning was "pertaining to the deh" (Old Persian:dahyu)—the latter term not in the latter sense of "village" (as inModern Persian) but in the original sense of "land".[1]Deh (ده / 𐭬𐭲𐭠) has both the same meaning of "village" in Middle Persian and in Modern Persian.
In the pre-IslamicSasanian Empire, thedehqans were considered minor landowners. The termdehqan emerged as ahereditary social class in the later Sassanid era, that managed local affairs and whom peasants were obliged to obey.
Following the suppression of theMazdakite uprising,Khosrau I implemented social reforms which benefited thedehqans.[4][5] Under the reign of Khosrau, who followed the same policies as his father, thedehqans gained influence as the backbone of theSasanian army and as imperial tax collectors,[5] eventually replacing the nobility as the base for the army under Khosrau's reforms.[6] As their influence grew, they maintained Persian ethics, ideals and social norms which were later reawakened during medieval times in Islamic Persia.[7]
In early Islamic texts, thedehqans function almost as local rulers under the Arab domain and the term was sometimes juxtaposed withmarzabān ("marcher-lord, governor"). By the 11th century, thedehqans were landowners or directly involved in agriculture; either the planting or the management of the land.[8] Aside from their political and social role, thedehqans who were well versed in the history and culture ofpre-Islamic Iran, played an important cultural role by serving rulers and princes as learned men.[9]
Iranians had not only preserved the ideals of thedehqans from the Sassanid times and brought them into the Islamic period, but they also inculcated these ideals to the minds of the ruling Arab aristocracy, who also fused with Iranians.[10] In the 9th century, theTahirids, who were of Persiandehqan origin, initiated a resurgence of Persian culture.[11]
During theSaljuq era, thedehqans played a major role as the Saljuqs turned to thedehqan aristocracy in order to govern their empire. The alliance between thedehqans and the Saljuqs actually created resentment among theTurcoman tribesmen after 1055 whenToghril Beg took overBaghdad.[10] Due to the attachment of thedehqans to Iranian culture, the termdehqan had already become synonymous to "a Persian of noble blood" in contrast to Arabs, Turks andRomans. According to some sources, including Nezami 'Aruzi, the Iranian national poetFerdowsi was also of thedehqan lineage.[10] Another poet that refers to himself as adehqan isQatran Tabrizi who was also well versed about ancient Iran. His poetry is replete with the references to ancient Iranian characters and their role.[10]