'Adud al-Dawla in the context of Abu Kalijar Marzuban

The Ziyarid dynasty (Persian: زیاریان) was an Iranian dynasty of Gilaki origin that ruled Tabaristan from 931 to 1090 during the Iranian Intermezzo period. The empire rose to prominence during the leadership of Mardavij. After his death, his brother Vushmgir and his Samanid allies led the dynasty in wrestling for control over territory against the Buyids in the early- to mid-10th century. When Vushmgir died, his sons Bisutun and Qabus fought for influence. Qabus would eventually outlive his brother and ruled the kingdom. However, Qabus was placed in exile from 980 to 998 by the Buyid ruler, Adud al-Dawla who would then dominate Tabaristan, the heartland of Ziyarid power. A succession of other rulers came to rule the kingdom with Ghaznavid support in the early 11th century. The Nizari Ismaili state invaded and ended Ziyarid rule in 1090.

At its greatest extent, it ruled much of present-day western and northern Iran. During the turn of the century, the kingdom attracted many scholars, with the most notable being al-Biruni.

Shabankara or Shwankara (Persian: شبانکاره, Kurdish: شوانکارە; lit. was an Iranian tribe. They claimed descent from the mythical Iranian king Manuchehr and from the founder of the Sasanian Empire, Ardashir I. They had been deported to eastern Fars from Isfahan and Syria by the Buyid Shahanshah 'Adud al-Dawla (r. 949–983). The dynasty's capital was Ij (Ig) and was divided in six districts: Zarkān, Iṣṭabānān, Burk-Tārum-K̲h̲ayra, Nayriz, Kurm-Rūnīz-Lār, and Darabjird. The tribe had the following subdivisions: Ismāʿīlī, the Rāmānī, the Karzuwī, the Masʿūdī and the S̲h̲akānī who were all herders and warriors.

There is a contemporary Kurdish tribe named Shabankara in Kermanshah province. Abu Tahir ibn Muhammad, a descendant from the Shabankara went on to found the Kurdish Hazaraspid dynasty in the 12th century.

Abu Nasr Firuz Kharshadh (Arabic: أبو نصر فيروز خوارشاذ; died December 22, 1012), better known by his laqab of Baha al-Dawla (Arabic: بهاء الدوله, romanized: Bahaʾ al-Dawla, lit. 'Splendour of the State') was the Buyid amir of Iraq (988–1012), along with Fars and Kerman (998–1012). His early reign was dominated by struggles with his rival relatives over control of the western Persian provinces, but by 998 he managed to establish his supremacy over the Buyid confederation. His reign nevertheless saw the increasing encroachment of neighbouring powers on Buyid territory, and marks the beginning of the decline of the Buyids' power. He was the third son of 'Adud al-Dawla.