Samarqandī, ʿAbd al-Razzāq d. 887/1482

Historian

ʿAbd al-Razzāq Samarqandī entered the service of Šāh Ruḫ (son of Tīmūr, see author 211) at a young age and shortly thereafter was sent as an ambassador to South Asia for several years. Following Šāh Ruḫ’s death in 850/1446-47, ʿAbd al-Razzāq served his successors in various capacities until he was appointed Shaykh of Šāh Ruḫ’s monastery at Herat, a position he held until his death in 887/1482.

ʿAbd al-Razzāq Samarqandī is mostly known for his work Maṭlaʿ-i saʿdayn va Majmaʿ-i baḥrayn, a history of the Tīmūrids from the early 8th/14th century to 875/1470.

For the period up to the year 830/1426-7, ʿAbd al-Razzāq relied heavily on Ḥāfiẓ-i Abrū’s work Zubdaħ al-tavārīḫ , however, for the period from 830/1425-7 until 875/1470 Maṭlaʿ-i saʿdayn va Majmaʿ-i baḥrayn is “one of the most important sources of information”.

Works

Maṭlaʿ-i saʿdayn va Majmaʿ-i baḥrayn     The Rising of the Two Fortunate Planets and the Junction of the Two Seas [Elliot and Dowson, v. IV, chapter XXII: PHI site]

Extends to 875/1470-1.