| Muhammad III | |
|---|---|
| Shirvanshah | |
| Reign | June 981 – November 991 |
| Predecessor | Ahmad |
| Successor | Yazid II |
| Died | November 991 Shamakhi |
| House | House of Shirvanshah |
| Father | Ahmad |
Muhammad III was the Shirvanshah from 981 to 991. He was the son and successor of Ahmad (r. 956–981).[1]
In 981/82, Muhammad III took the town of Qabala from its ruler, Abd al-Barr ibn Anbasa. In 982, he took control of Barda'a, and made Musa ibn Ali his lieutenant. In 983, a wall around the town of Shabaran was constructed under Muhammad IV's orders.[1] In 989/90, the inhabitants of the town of al-Bab became enthusiastic supporters of Muhammad al-Tuzi, a preacher who had arrived from Gilan. The latter soon took over the entire town, and fell into disfavour with its ruler, Maymun. The supporters of al-Tuzi laid siege to the castle of Maymun, forcing him to flee to Tabarsaran in 990/91.[2]
Muhammad III was subsequently invited by al-Tuzi to take control over al-Bab.[3] He went to the town, staying there for some months and overseeing its administration. He was eventually taken back to Shirvan by his men after suffering a head injury from a battle-axe by Balid, a ghulams of Maymun, who subsequently reconquered al-Bab.[1] Muhammad III died in November 991 and was succeeded by his brother Yazid II.[4]
A coin struck under Muhammad III at Barda'a is engraved with the nasab ibn as-Sallar, which demonstrates that Muhammad III wanted to make it clear that he was the rightful heir of the Persian monarchs.[5] "Sallar" is derived from sardar, a military title under the Sasanian Empire (224–651).[6]