Samanid strategies in the face of the powers of time in the final years of government

The Samanids were one of the most important governments in the eastern part of the Islamic world in the fourth century AH. The Samanid government, which initially had strong rule based on efficient geographical, political, and bureaucratic elements, was weakened and degenerated in the final years of its rule due to the adoption of a shaky and defensive foreign policy.The purpose of this article is to know the relations of the Samanids with the powers of their time: the Abbasid Caliphate, the Buyid dynasty, the surrounding kings and the Qarakhanids. The Samanids 'relations with the surrounding kings (subordinate rulers) were strained due to the structural weakness of the government and their defensive and passive strategy, and these powers interacted with the Samanids' rivals, including the Karakhanids and the Buyids, which resulted in the decline of the Samanids. The questions that this research seeks to answer, what role did the Samanids' defensive strategy play in their decline? Why was the Samanid policy of confrontation against the caliphate ineffective? The research is descriptive-analytical method and the research findings show that the Samanids with a defensive strategy could not create a proper balance in their relations with their subjects, claimants and foreign rivals (Qarakhanian and Al-Buwayh). It played a decisive role. Also, the Samanids' confrontation with the Abbasid caliphate, which was rooted in rivalry with the Buyids, led rivals to use the caliphate to gain legitimacy.