Abd al-Malik I (Samanid emir)
Abd al-Malik I was amir of the Samanid Empire from 954 to 961. He was the son and successor of Nuh I. His reign was marked by internal strife, with the Turkic slave-soldiers increasing in power. He died after falling from his horse during a game of polo at Bukhara. He was succeeded by his brother Mansur I, who was put on the throne by a faction of ghulams led by the Turkic slave-commander, Fa'iq Khassa.
Gold dinar of Abd al-Malik I, minted at Nishapur in 955/6
Abu Salih Mansur, better known as Mansur I (منصور) was amir of the Samanids from 961 to 976. The son of Nuh I, his reign was characterized by weak rule and perpetual financial troubles. Mansur was notably the first Samanid ruler to the use title of King of Kings (Shahanshah), most likely as a response to his rival, the Buyid ruler Adud al-Dawla, who likewise used the title. He is also known by the sobriquet Amīr-i Sadid.
14th-century illustration of the coronation of Mansur I
Silver medallion of Mansur I with bilingual Middle Persian and Arabic minted in Bukhara. Obverse in Middle Persian: khvarrah apzut shahanshah "the King of Kings has increased the royal splendor" Reverse in Arabic: la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharik lahu Muhammad rasul Allah al-muti' lillah al-malik al-muzaffar mansur bin nuh "There is no god but Allah, the One, there is no partner to Him, Muhammad is the meassenger of Allah, al-Muti' lillah, the victorious king, Mansur son of
