A TV-series has been released by Bozdağ Film both in Turkey and Uzbekistan, named Bozkır Arslanı Celaleddin, which means Lion of the Steppe Jalaluddin. (It is known as well Mendirman Jaloliddin) While it tells the story of the last shah of the Khwarezmian Empire’s struggles against the Mongols, which known as Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, Khwarezm and Khwarezmians became popular searching keywords among the Turkic countries.
If you search on the Google Maps and type the blank Khwarezm, you fill find a small state in the border of Uzbekistan. But in fact, the historical region of Khwarezm land was much larger than todays. It covers much of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and a little piece of Kazakhistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Here’s a map of Khwarezmian estimated lands between 1190-1220.
Khwarezmian Empire
Khwarezmian Empire was founded by Qutbuddin Mohamed in the year of 1097, who’s father had tax collector (taştdar) in the Seljuk Empire. They conquered a large area making wars with its neighbours.
Kharezmian rulers were descended from Anush Tegin and ruled by six different shah throughout their history. They were a dynastic state as in the whole world. But a rising empire in the east, called Mongols, devastated Khwarezmian Empire just in 12 years. As a result of occupation, many Turkic tribes immigrated westward. But the fight against the Mongols during the reign of Mendirman Jaloliddin earned respect even world’s greatest ruler, Genghis Khan.
The list of Khwarezmian Rulers
The people who ruled the country of Khwarezm were given the title of Khwarezm or Khwarezmshah. Qutbuddin Mohamed (1097-1128) was the longest reigning Khwarezmshah ruler with 31 years.
- Kubüddin Muhammed (1097-1128) – 31 years
- Kızıl Arslan Atsız (1128-1156) – 28 years
- İl-Arslan (1156-1172) – 16 years
- Alaaddin Tekiş (1172-1200) – 28 years
- Alaaddin Muhammed (1200-1220) – 20 years
- Harzemşah Celaleddin Mengübirdi (1220-1231) – 11 years