Khwarazmian Dynasty

The Khwarazmian Dynasty: From Rise to the Fall

The Khwarazmian dynasty were a Turkish-Iranian dynasty within the Persian cultural background. Adhering to Sunni Islam, this dynasty was established by Mamluk Turks who controlled Persia and Central Asia from the late 10th to the mid-12th century.

Initially, the Khwarazmian took control of few other state under the Seljuk Empire but later emerged as an independent kingdom. Anwashkin founded this state in the 6th century, with Seljuk Sultan Malekshah appointing him as the ruler of Kharazm. During the reign of Anwashkin’s descendants (prior to 9 AD), the Seljuk sultans governed the Khwarezmian territory through their representatives. Anwashkin may have had ties to the Bigdeli tribe of the Oghuz Turks.

The estimated area of the Kharazmshahi territory is approximately 1.2 to 2.5 million square kilometers.

Explore Ancient heritage & highlights, Altogether on → Private Iran Tours

Khwarazmian Dynasty: Territories & areas

The region of Khwarezm has various names. Following the Mongol invasion of Iran, people began calling this land Khiva. Scholars have proposed several interpretations of the term “Kharazm.” Some suggest that “Khwarazm” derives from words meaning “humiliation” and “land,” implying a concept of “down” or “martial land.”

Other researchers suggest that “Khwarezmian” relates to “the sun,” with the region being considered the land from which the sun rises. Due to its proximity to the Jihoun River and its advantageous commercial position, Kharazm was a fertile and attractive area that drew various ethnic groups and traders through its caravan routes.

In addition, scholars debates diverse views regarding the geographical boundaries of Khwarazmian Dynasty. Scholars have well-established that Kharazm, Transoxiana, and Khorasan were distinct regions. However, certain Islamic geographical sources have conflated these three areas, treating them as part of a larger region encompassing both Khorasan and Kharazm.

The birth of the Khwarazmian Dynasty

The birth of the Khwarezmian dynasty remains a subject of unknown between the historian. In 1017, a revolt led by Khwarezmian insurgents resulted in the assassination of Abu’l-Abbas Ma’mun and his wife, Hurra-ji, who was the sister of the Ghaznavid Sultan Mahmud.

According to Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī, the initial rulers of Khwarezm were the descendants of Siavash. However, the first established dynasty known to govern the region was the Khwarezmshahs of the Al-Afshar lineage, whose rule extended from the 1st/2nd century AD to the 6th century AD.

Rise Of Khwarazmshah

The historical origins of the Al-Afshar Khwarezmshahs remain unclear, largely due to mythical accounts. According to al-Baqiyyah, the Al-Afshar Khwarezmshahs descended from the Keikhosro lineage and received the name Al-Afshar from their progenitor.

In 6AD, Amir Abu al-Abbas Ma’mun ibn Mohammed ended their rule by executing Abu Abdullah ibn Ahmad, thereby establishing the dominance of the Ma’munids. Ma’mun adopted the title of Kharazmshah, thereby founding the second Khwarezmshah dynasty, also known as the Al-Farghun dynasty. Following Abu al-Ma’mun’s death, which occurred during conflicts with his Salar Salaran, his son Abul Hassan succeeded him.

Abul Hassan’s empowerment coincided with the beginning of Mahmoud Ghaznavi’s work and the fall of the Samanids Abu’li initially supported Ismail Montasser Shah, but with his defeat and murder, he led to Ghaznavids and sister of Sultan Mahmoud Ghaznavi, Hara Khatli. With the death of Abu al -Hassan his brother Abu al -Abbas sat on the throne.

He continued the same policy to support Ghaznavids, but at that time the power of Sultan Mahmoud had increased and had become a large empire from a small local power. These conditions caused tensions in the court of Khwarazmshah; That eventually led to the assassination of Abu al -Abbas and the Sultan Mahmoud’s invasion of Khwarazm.

Fall of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni

Sent an army to Khwarezm, capturing the region along with numerous prisoners. Sultan Mahmud appointed Abu Saeed Altuntas, one of his trusted officials, to oversee the administration of Khwarezm, bestowing upon him the title of Kharazmshah. Altuntas and his descendants established a short-lived Khwarezmshah dynasty, which lasted until the 10AD.

Following the defeat of the Ghaznavids by the Saljuqs in Khwarezm, the region initially came under the jurisdiction of Khorasan. During the Seljuq period, the court managed the household expenses of Khwarezm. Consequently, the region fell under the control of Anwashkin Gharah, an ancestor of the Khwarezmshah family.

Anwashkin governed Khwarezm until the Seljuq era, at which point he transferred the administration to his son, Qutbuddin Muhammad. This transition marked the establishment of the Khwarezmshah dynasty and the consolidation of the family’s power.

How did Khwarazmian Dynasty start ?

Thus, a new government emerged, most effectively consolidated by the Seljuks. Qutbuddin Muhammad governed the Emirates under the Seljuks’ aegis for thirty years.

His successor, Atsiz, received the emirate of Khwarezm in the 5th lunar year at the command of Sultan Sanjar. Although Atsiz initially maintained a close relationship with Sultan Sanjar, growing tensions between them eventually led to numerous conflicts. Despite these challenges, Atsiz was unable to significantly advance the Khwarezmshah territory before Sultan Sanjar’s death.

Upon Atsiz’s death before Sultan Sanjar, his son, Il-Arsalan, assumed the role of Amir of Khwarezm in the 2nd lunar year. During Il-Arsalan’s tenure, the death of Sultan Sanjar and subsequent Seljuq internal conflicts allowed him to secure control over part of Khorasan in the 6th lunar year and Transoxiana in the 6th lunar year. Il-Arsalan ruled Khwarezmshah for nearly fifteen years during this period.

Khwarazmian Dynasty’s heritage

After Arsalan’s death, his sons, Sultanhah and Aladdin Takash, repeatedly clashed as they vied for control of the provincial governorship. Their conflicts persisted until they eventually resolved their disputes.

At this time, the last remnants of Seljuk power, encompassing Khorasan, Ray, and Iraq, fell into the hands of the Khwarazmian king. The decline of Seljuk authority contributed to the dissatisfaction of the Baghdad Caliph, a sentiment that Muhammad ibn Takash later exploited. Following Aladdin Takash’s death in the 6th lunar year, his son Muhammad declared himself Aladdin Muhammad and assumed the title of Sultan Muhammad Khwarezmshah.

Confronting Khwarazmian Dynasty vs Abbasid Caliphate

Aladdin Muhammad Khwarezmshah ruled for twenty years, from 1200 to 1219 AD. From the outset of his reign, Sultan Muhammad struggled with hostility from the Caliph, a legacy of enmity inherited from his father. He lacked the support of the jurists and imams in the province, which led him to depend heavily on his Qipchaq amirs, specifically the Qanguli Turks, whose maternal relatives were the Khatun Turks. By relying on these undisciplined troops, whom the people of Khwarezm saw as outsiders, he gradually sparked widespread resentment against the Khwarezmshah government.

Conflicts with Mongols

Mongol conquest of the khwarazmian empire – During the period when Muhammad Khwarezmshah was expanding his power in the eastern regions beyond the Fararodan River, the Caliph of Baghdad, Al-Nasser al-Din Ballah, was plotting to limit his growing power in Jabal and Iraq. Meanwhile, a new power was emerging to the east of the Khwarezmshahs’ territory.

At that time, the Mongols, who were preparing to advance by uniting various Bedouin clans, did not feature prominently in the political conflicts between the Sultan of Khwarezmshah and the Caliph of Baghdad. Consequently, their growing power and influence went largely unnoticed.

As a result, the looming disaster went unnoticed by both major powers, so when it struck, it left nothing of the renowned Khwarezmian kingdom or the Caliphate system intact. The aftermath included widespread devastation, destruction, mass killings, and the collapse of a civilization. When Genghis Khan returned to his throne, he saw that the Mongol invasion had reduced most of Iran to ruins and destroyed many of its cultural monuments.

Genghis Khan vs Khwarazmian Empire

After conquering China and part of Central Asia, Genghis Khan became a neighbour of the Khwarezmshahs. He aimed to establish a trade route between Khwarezm and China. Initially, he respected Sultan Muhammad Khwarezmshah, but hostile actions by the Sultan angered Genghis Khan and led him to invade Islamic countries. The Mongol invasion began after 450 Mongolian Muslim merchants were murdered in the city of Atar. Genghis Khan launched the first campaign in September 1219.

In the same year, Sultan Muhammad Khwarezmshah led an army to fight the Mongols but was defeated by Juji, Genghis Khan’s son. Following this defeat, Sultan Muhammad decided to avoid further battles with the Mongol forces. Genghis Khan then sent two of his army commanders to capture Sultan Muhammad. The following year, on his deathbed, Sultan Muhammad appointed Jalaluddin Khwarezmshah as his successor. Jalaluddin resisted the Mongol troops for over ten years after his father’s death. The second Mongol campaign occurred in 626 AH, led by Ughtai Khan and Jarmaghun Nuyan.

The Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire

This campaign aimed to end the resistance of Jalaluddin Khwarezmshah and to conquer the territories under Khwarezm dynasty’s control. By the conclusion of these two assaults, the Mongols had dismantled the Khwarezmshah empire in Iran. They completely destroyed numerous Iranian cities, including Samarkand, Merv, Bamyan, Herat, Tus, Neishabur, and the dynasty’s capital, Gurganj, and massacred their inhabitants. The devastation extended beyond the north and northeast of Iran, targeting cities such as Ray, Qom, Qazvin, Hamedan, Maragheh, and Ardabil in the central and western regions of the country.

The Khwarezmshahi government, which had the potential to enhance the future of Iran and advance Islamic civilization through the efforts of its founders, ultimately fell into ruin. Tyranny, royal ambitions, and narrow-minded religious and political policies undermined the achievements of its leaders and deprived the people of their potential benefits.

The Causes of the Fall of the Khwarezmshahs

The Khwarezmian Empire ignored Mongol threats, viewing them as inferior tribes, leading to its downfall. The excessive interference and unchecked power of the Khatun Turks also played a significant role.

Additionally, the defensive strategies of the Khwarezmshah forces, which were concentrated in the cities, proved ineffective.

Sultan Muhammad’s destruction of the Karakhanid rule, bringing Iran closer to the Mongol Empire, contributed to the downfall.

Khwarazm Empire sultan list

Mamuni governors of Khwarazm

Amir Abu Ali Mamun bin Muhammad

Abul Hasan Ali Bin Mamun

Abu’l-Abbas Mamun bin Mamun

Abul Harith Muhammad bin Ali

Alton Tashi governors of Khwarezm

Amir Abu Ali Mamun bin Muhammad

Abu Saeed Altun Tash

Harun ben Altun Tash

Ismail Khandan bin Altun Tash

Non-dynastic governor

Amir Abul-Fawars, Shah Malik bin Ali

Shahna Ekinchi bin Qachar

Governor Anushtkin

Shahna Anushtkin Gharche

Anushtkini kings

Shah Qutb Al-Dunya parents of Abul Fatah Qutb Din Muhammad

Al-Ala-Dunya, the parents of Abol-Muzaffar Ala-D-Din Etsez

Taj al-Dunya, parents of Abul Fatah Arsalan family

Aladdin parents of Abul Muzaffar Aladdin Takesh

Jalal-Dunya, parents of Abul Qasim Mahmud Sultan Shah

Shah Al-Dunya parents of Abul-Fath Ala-Din Muhammad

Khwarazmian empire flag

Khwarazmian Empire FAQ

Which country is Khwarazm?

The region of Khwarazm, in modern day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan, endured a turbulent period of change between the third and eighth centuries AD.

What happened to the Khwarazmian Empire?

The Khwarezmian Empire represented the Turco-Persian state before the Mongol invasion of Central Asia. In 1219, Genghis Khan led the Mongols in an invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire, conquering it entirely within two years.

What was the ethnicity of the Khwarazm empire?

The Khwarezmian Empire was a Persian and Central Asian state during the Middle Ages. Founded in 1077, it emerged when Anūshtegin Gharcha’i, a ghulām slave-general of the Seljuk Empire, led a revolt in the Khwarezm region of Central Asia.

What is Khwarezmian empire now?

It served as the centre of the Iranian Khwarezmian civilisation and was the seat of various kingdoms, including the Afrighid dynasty and the Anushtegin dynasty. Its capitals included Kath, Gurganj (now Konye-Urgench), and, from the 16th century onwards, Khiva. Today, Khwarezm straddles parts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Who was the king of Khwarizm?

In the early 13th century, the Khwarezmian Empire, under Shah ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Muhammad II (1200–1220), governed all of Persia. From 1218 to 1220, Genghis Khan conquered Central Asia, including the Kara-Khitai Khanate, thereby bringing an end to the Khwarezmian Empire.

What was Khwarazm famous for?

Khwarezm played a significant role, particularly through its ancient cities situated along major trade routes. Between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE, the Khwarezm region underwent numerous political changes due to the prevailing circumstances of the period.

Who was the founder of the Khwarazmian empire?

Anūshtegin Gharacha of the Khwarezm-Shah dynasty (1077–1231) established a dynasty that governed Central Asia and Iran, initially as vassals of the Seljuqs and later as independent rulers. The founder of the dynasty, Anūshtegin Gharachaʾī, was a slave who the Seljuq ruler Malik-Shāh appointed as governor of Khwarezm around 1077.

How big was the army of the Khwarezmian empire?

Composition of the Khwarezmian Army: Based on the numbers provided by sources, the Khwarezmian army likely comprised over 50,000 personnel, with a core of approximately 12,000 soldiers.

How powerful was the Khwarazmian Empire?

The Khwarezmian Empire ultimately emerged as “the most powerful and aggressively expansionist empire in the Persian lands,” defeating the Seljuk Empire and the Ghurid Empire and even posing a threat to the Abbasid Caliphate.

Is Khwarazm a Persian word?

The Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi, in his *Muʿǧam al-Buldan*, stated that the name derived from the Persian compounds *khwar* (خوار) and *razm* (رزم), which referred to the word of fighting as in army

What did the Mongols do to the Khwarazm empire?

The Mongols invaded the Khwarezmian Empire in 1219. Over the course of two years, they conducted a brutal and decisive campaign that obliterated the empire, likely resulting in the deaths of millions, including many women and children.