Khwarazmshahs

The Khwarazmshahs were a Persianate dynasty of Mamluk Turkic origin who ruled over Greater Iran and Central Asia from the 11th to the 13th centuries. The dynasty was founded by Anush Tegin Gharchai, a Turkic slave soldier who was appointed governor of Khwarazm by the Seljuk sultans. His descendants eventually broke away from Seljuk control and established an independent empire.

The Khwarazmshahs reached their zenith under Ala ad-Din Muhammad II, who expanded the empire to encompass Persia, Mesopotamia, and parts of Central Asia. He was a patron of the arts and sciences, and his court was a center of learning. However, his aggressive policies and his decision to attack the Mongol Empire ultimately led to the downfall of his dynasty.

In 1219, Genghis Khan invaded Khwarazm in retaliation for the murder of Mongol envoys. The Khwarazmian Empire was devastated by the Mongol onslaught, and its cities were destroyed. The last Khwarazmshah, Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, fought bravely but was eventually defeated, and the dynasty effectively ceased to exist as an independent power. Remnants of the Khwarazmian state continued to exist in Anatolia and the Levant for a short period, but they were eventually absorbed by other powers. The legacy of the Khwarazmshahs is that of a powerful empire that played a significant role in the history of Persia and Central Asia before its catastrophic end at the hands of the Mongols.