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'''{{transl|ar|Ikhshid}}''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: اخشید;  from {{langx|sog|xšyδ}}, {{Lang|sog-Latn|xšēδ}}) was the [[princely]] title of the [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] rulers of [[Soghdia]] and the [[Principality of Farghana|Ferghana Valley]] in [[Transoxiana]] during the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods.{{sfn|Bosworth|1971|p=1060}} The title is of [[Iranian languages|Iranian]] origin; scholars have derived it variously from the [[Old Iranian]] root {{transl|ira|khshaeta}}, {{lit.|shining, brilliant}}, or from {{transl|ira|khshāyathiya}}, 'ruler, king' (which is also the origin of the title '[[shah]]').{{sfn|Bosworth|1971|p=1060}}
[[File:Coin Turgara obverse and reverse NMAT 319.jpg|thumb|Coin of ruler [[Turgar]], [[Ikhshids of Sogdia|Ikhshid of Sogdia]].]]
The [[Ikhshids of Sogdia]], with their capital at [[Samarkand]], are well attested during and after the [[Muslim conquest of Transoxiana]]. The line survived into [[Abbasid]] times, although by then its seat was in [[Ishtikhon|Istikhan]].{{sfn|Bosworth|1971|p=1060}} Among the most notable and energetic of the Soghdian kings was [[Gurak]], who in 710 overthrew his predecessor [[Tarkhun]] and for almost thirty years, through shifting alliances, managed to preserve a precarious autonomy between the expanding [[Umayyad Caliphate]] and the [[Türgesh]] [[khaganate]].{{sfn|Gibb|1923|pp=42ff.}}
Also, The ruler of Kāš ([[Kashgar]]) in the late 8th century, according to the Middle Persian [[Manichaeism|Manichean]] text [[Mahrnāmag]] (Müller, lines 75-76), was called xšy∂ (‘ruler’ in [[Sogdian language|Sogdian]]), with the title “Head of Auditors” and the name lyfwtwšy, which is possibly Chinese.<ref>Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. “Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica.” Iranicaonline.org, 2024. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kashgar-kasgar-town-in-xinjiang.</ref> In the early 3rd century, Kashgar became a major power center in the "Western Regions". However, by the mid-3rd century, as per an inscription by [[Shapur I]], Kashgar was likely the easternmost point of the Persian [[Sasanian Empire]].<ref>Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. “Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica.” Iranicaonline.org, 2024. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kashgar-kasgar-town-in-xinjiang.</ref>
The Arab authors report that the title was also used by the ruler of the [[Principality of Farghana]] during the same period: [[Ibn al-Athir]] reports that it was the {{transl|ar|ikhshid}} of Ferghana who called upon the [[Tang dynasty|Chinese]] for aid against the Arabs, resulting in the [[Battle of Talas]].{{sfn|Bosworth|1971|p=1060}}
The title's prestige in Central Asia remained high as late as the 10th century, when it was adopted by the [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] commander and ruler of [[Egypt]] [[Muhammad ibn Tughj]], whose grandfather had come from Ferghana. After his title the short-lived Egyptian dynasty founded by Muhammad al-Ikhshid is known as the [[Ikhshidid dynasty]].{{sfn|Bosworth|1971|p=1060}}{{sfn|Bacharach|1993|p=411}}
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== Sources ==
* {{EI2 | volume=7 | title = Muḥammad b. Ṭug̲h̲d̲j | first = Jere L. | last = Bacharach | authorlink = | page = 411 | doi =10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_5369 }}
* {{EI2 | volume=3 | title = Ik̲h̲s̲h̲īd | first = C. E. | last = Bosworth | authorlink = C. E. Bosworth | page = 1060 | doi =10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_3513 }}
* {{The Arab Conquests in Central Asia}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Sogdian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Royal titles]]
[[Category:History of Samarkand]]