Kasranid

The Kasranids were the Persianized senior line of the Shirvanshahs, rulers of Shirvan on the western shore of the Caspian. They grew out of the Arab Yazidid family, which had ruled since Haytham ibn Khalid took the title of Shirvanshah in 861. The name came from Kasra, linked to the legendary Kai Khosrow, as the dynasty claimed the heritage of the Sasanian and Kayanian kings.

From Shamakhy they married into Georgia's Bagrationi, absorbed Derbent and survived as vassals or tributaries of successive powers. Their court hosted the Persian poets Nizami Ganjavi and Khaqani. After the earthquake of 1192 Akhsitan I moved the capital to Baku.

The last ruler, Hushang, was raised as a hostage at the Jalayirid court and ruled from 1372 until his subjects killed him in 1382. The crown passed to his cousin Ibrahim I of the Darbandid branch.