Usfurids dynasty الدولة العصفورية
1253–1320
The borders of the Usfurid emirate
Capital	al-Hasa
Common languages	Arabic
Religion	Islam
Government	Emirate
Historical era	13th-14th centuries
• Established	1253
• Disestablished	1320
Preceded by Succeeded by Uyunid Emirate Jarwanid dynasty
Today part of	Saudi Arabia Bahrain Kuwait Qatar United Arab Emirates

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History of Bahrain
Ancient Bahrain Dilmun Tylos Awal
Historical region Islam in Bahrain Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami
Reigning Dynasties Qarmatians Uyunid dynasty Usfurid and Jarwanid dynasties Jabrid dynasty
Portuguese occupation Muqrin ibn Zamil Antonio Correia
Safavid hegemony 1717 Omani invasion of Bahrain
1783–1971 1783 Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship (1861) 1895 coup d'etat attempt Administrative reforms of the 1920s first oil well (1932) National Union Committee March 1965 Intifada Bahraini independence survey, 1970
State of Bahrain State Security Law era 1981 coup d'état attempt 1990s Uprising
Kingdom of Bahrain 2000s in Bahrain 2011 uprising
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The Usfurids (Arabic: آل عصفور, romanized: Al ʿUṣfūr) were an Arab dynasty that in 1253 gained control of Eastern Arabia, including the islands of Bahrain. They were a branch of Uqaylids who re-migrated to Arabia after the fall of their rule in Syria.^[1]

Name

The dynasty is named after its founder, ʿUṣfūr bin Rāshid (عُصْفُور بِن رَاشِد). The name ʿUṣfūr (عصفور) means small bird.

History

They were initially allies of the Qarmatians and their successors, the Uyunids, but eventually overthrew the latter and seized power themselves.^[2] The Usfurids' takeover came after Uyunid power had been weakened by invasion in 1235 by the Salghurid Atabeg of Fars.

The Usfurids at the beginning of their rule had a state that composed of central and eastern Arabia and even ruled parts of Oman.^[3][4] After 150 years of rule the Usfurids were overthrown by the Jarwanids whom in turn were overthrown by the Jabrids who were also an Uqaylid dynasty.