Fariburz ibn Sallar (), better simply known as Fariburz I (), was the sixteenth Shah of Shirvan, ruling from 1063 to 1096. His reign saw many major political balance changes in Caucasus, including expansion by the Seljuqs. He was considered a ruler with great diplomatic skills, and his kingdom extended from Mughan to Kumuk and Alania.
Reign
Clash with the Shaddadids
On 20 February 1063, Fariburz's father Sallar died, and thus Fariburz became the new ruler of Shirvan. Although he even already controlled most of the kingdom during his father's reign. In March, the Shaddadid ruler Abu'l-Asvar Shavur I invaded his domains, captured the Quylamiyan castle, and then withdrew back to Arran. However, some time later, he returned to Shirvan and once again began raiding it. The Shirvanians, who fought against him, were defeated and many of them were taken captive and had their riches taken. Shavur then marched towards the capital of Shirvan, Shamakhi.
There he seized many riches, captured the wife of Sallar, and then returned to Arran. On July, Shavur once again returned to Shirvan, where he had villages, crops, and houses destroyed. Fariburz, powerless to do anything, sent his son Afridun to gain aid from the ruler of Sarir, whom Afridun was related to through his mother. However, the ruler of Sarir declined his request, and after three months, Afridun returned to Shirvan. In January 1064, Shavur invaded Shirvan for the fourth time, where he seized several towns, and forced Fariburz to pay him 40,000 dinars. On June 1064 (or July), Shavur restored Quylamiyan to Fariburz in return of extra 40,000 dinars.
Hostilities with people of Derbent
In 1065, the people of Derbent revolted and killed its ruler, the Hashimid Mansur ibn Abd al-Malik. However, unfortunately for the rebels, Mansur was a cousin of Fariburz and had good relations with him, which made him raise an army and attack Derbent in order to avenge him, destroying many villages around the city. A battle shortly ensured at a bridge, which resulted in the defeat and massacre of the rebels. Fariburz then plundered Derbent and withdrew back to Shirvan.
Fariburz later returned to Derbent and began raiding around the city. This hit the people of Derbent heavily, and forced them to free Fariburz's paternal aunt Shamkuya and pay tribute. This made a certain Mufarrij, who is called the "chief-of-chiefs of Derbent", request aid from the ruler of Sarir, who agreed to help him. Some time later, Mufarrij, with an army which included his own men and some Saririans, went forth to besiege the city of Shabaran, but was shortly defeated by Fariburz, who managed to capture him. The people of Derbent then finally surrender to Fariburz, who had the city rebuilt. On 30 January 1066, Fariburz appointed his son Afridun as the city's governor, who was warmly received by its people.
Clash with the Turks
However, Fariburz soon faced problems with a rising power - the Turks, who had raided his domains and the territories of the Kurds, taking much booty. Fariburz tried to make the Turks leave by paying them, but this did not work, and the Turkic warlord Qara-tegin arrived to Shirvan for the second time, this time being followed by Fariburz's paternal uncle Mamlan ibn Yazid. Qara-tegin shortly besieged Shamakhi and ravaged its surroundings, bringing great destruction. The situation became so hard that Fariburz had to send his studs to Masqat. In January 1067, for an unknown reason, Fariburz had some people from Shamakhi crucified, including his chamberlain (hajib) Lashkari ibn Rahman.
Meanwhile, Qara-tegin resumed his raiding in Shirvan, destroyed many villages and towns, and kidnapped woman and children. He then laid siege to Shamakhi once again. The situation become more difficult for Fariburz when an army consisting of 2,000 Turkic troops arrived as reinforcements to Qara-tegin. These Turks shortly tried to trick Fariburz by sending him a message which said: "the Sultan has sent us to help thee and to drive Qara-tegin from thee". They then arrested Qara-tegin and Mamlan and asked Fariburz to come to them so that they could give him the prisoners. However, Fariburz did not fall for the bait and remained in his residence. The Turks then freed Qara-tegin and Mamlan and continued the siege of Shamakhi. Meanwhile, Fariburz secretly sent a messenger to the chamberlain of the Seljuq ruler Alp Arslan, who was the overlord of Qara-tegin and the Turks who had been raiding Caucasus.