Sanjar

Sanjar, also known as Muizz ad-Din Sanjar, was the Seljuk Sultan of Khorasan and Persia who reigned from 1118 to 1157. He was the youngest son of Malik Shah I and Torkhan Khatun. Sanjar is renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to restore the Seljuk Empire during a period of fragmentation.

Initially appointed governor of various provinces by his brother Muhammad I, Sanjar eventually ascended to the throne after his brother's death. He inherited a vast but fractured empire and faced numerous challenges from rivals and rebellious factions. Sanjar successfully campaigned against the Ghurids in the east and confronted the rising power of the Kara-Khitai in Central Asia, although he suffered a significant defeat at the Battle of Qatwan in 1141.

Despite his military engagements, Sanjar was also a patron of arts and sciences. His court in Merv became a center of intellectual activity. However, his reign was ultimately marked by internal strife and external pressures. A rebellion led by the Oghuz Turks in 1153 resulted in Sanjar's capture and imprisonment for several years. Although he eventually escaped, his authority was severely weakened.

Sanjar's death in 1157 is often seen as the final dissolution of the Great Seljuk Empire, as his vast territories fragmented further and were claimed by various successor states, including the Khwarazmians and the Ghurids. He remains a significant figure in the history of the Seljuk dynasty and the broader Islamic world for his attempts to maintain unity and his personal courage in the face of adversity.