Friday, September 6, 2024

A kurd ending the final Khwarazmshah of the Anushteginid dynasty

The final Khwarazmshah of the Anushteginid dynasty was Jalal al-Din Mangburni. Mangburni fled to Kurdistan while the dynasty was in decline. His reputation made it a poor decision to seek refuge in Kurdistan. 


Hamdallah Mustawfi (14th-century):

On his father's death he proceeded to Khwárazm, but, not being loyally supported by his amirs, he retreated to Ghazna. His brothers Arzláq and Aq-Sultan followed him to persuade him to return, but when they reached the fron-tiers of Khurásán they were attacked by the Mongols and killed. In that year Jalálu'd-Dín fought seven battles with
the Mongols and was victorious in all, until finally Chingíz
Khán himself marched against him, in the month of Shaw-
wál, A. H. 618, and defeated him. Jalálu'd-Din with 700 of
his men attempted to swim the river into Sind, but only
he and seven of his companions reached the other shore in
safety. He then gathered a fresh army, conquered a consi-
derable portion of India, and remained there two years,
when, hearing that Chingíz Khán had withdrawn from Persia,
he left Jahán Pahlawán Uzbek as his deputy in India (501),
and himself set out for Persia, where he arrived in A. H.
621. He first entered Kirmán, and there married the daughter
of Buráq Hájib. Thence he proceeded to Fárs, and married
the daughter of the Atábek Sa'd. Thence he advanced
through Isfahán to Ray, where his brother Ghiyáthu'd-Dín
was ruler. Thence to Baghdad, where he defeated the Arabs.
He next seized Adharbayján, and married Malika Khátún,
daughter of the Seljúq Tughril, who had been divorced by
the Atábek Uzbeg. Jalálu'd-Dín, next subdued Georgia. He
returned from Tiflis to Kirmán in seventeen days, but was
met on his approach by its ruler Buráq Hájib, who persuaded
him to retire '). Meanwhile al-Malik al-Ashraf abducted Malika
Khátún from the Castle of Khúy, while the Georgians revolted.
Jalálu'd-Din thereupon marched to Akhlát to punish al-Malik
al-Ashraf, but ere it surrendered news came that the Indian
army had attacked Iráq. Jalálu'd-Dín now completed the
subjugation of Georgia, reduced Akhláț, and took prisoner
the wife of al-Malik al-Ashraf. He next marched into
Syria and Asia Minor to punish al-Malik al-Ashraf and 'Alá'u
'd-Din Kay-qubád the Seljúq, but, being at the time ill,
was repulsed. Shortly afterwards, however he renewed his
campaign, and devastated their territories. He next attacked the Mongols, who had advanced on Ișfahán. Both right wings were defeated. The Mongols march on Khurásán, and Jalálu'd-Dín retires to the mountains of Luristán, while his fugitive troops enter Isfahán. Good offices of the Qádí Ruknu'd-Dín Şáidí in keeping the peace between them until the return of Jalálu'd-Dín seven days later. He goes to Arrán and Kurdistán, and in despair takes to drink. The Mongols pursued him thither, and in the middle of Shawwál, A. H. 628 (= middle of August, A. D. 1231) surprised him drinking. He escaped, and wandered into the mountains, where he was murdered by a Kurd whose brother he had slain at Akhlát. With him perished the dynasty of the Khwárazmsháhs, and the Mongols became supreme in Persia.



Shams al Din, an astronomer from the 13th century, also documents this occurrence. Persian is used to write both pieces. Is there anything particularly noteworthy in Persian sources?  The archetype of the epic hero. The Kurdish hero motif is most often in Persian literature than in other languages.

Shams al Din (13th-century): 

It is related that on the third day Bahā-e Valad set out on the road for Kufa in the direction of the Kaba. When he returned from the pilgrimage to the Kaba, he arrived in Damascus. It was the time of Malek-e Ashraf. The inhabitants of Damascus displayed great affection for Bahä-e Valad and desired that he take up residence there. He did not consent, saying: 'Divine indication is to the effect that our abode shall be in the clime of Rūm and our tomb is to be in the earth of the royal capital Konya.'

And when they came forth from the city of Malatya in the year six hundred and fourteen, Chengiz Khān had died and his son Okotāy Khān had been appointed successor to his father, and Sultan Alā al-Din of Rüm had recently ascended the throne of rule over Rüm. In the city of Sivas in the year six hundred and sixteen it was announced: 'Jalāl al-Dīn-e Khvārazmshāh, fleeing from the reach of the Mongols, has captured the city of Akhlaț after a siege and seeks to make it a royal residence for himself. Furthermore, he has set his eye on Rum and feels a passionate desire for it.'

As it turned out, Sultan Alaº al-Din Keyqobad together with Malek-e Ashraf of Damascus destroyed the Khvārazmshah's  army at Yāsī Chūmān, i.e. Chaman, [located] above Erzincan. The Khvārazmshāh then fled in the direction of Khartapart and was killed while in the hands of heroes among the Kurds. Thus the last of the people who practiced wickedness was cut off. Praise be to God, the Lord of creation (6/45)!

The tyrant was killed. A world was brought to life.

Everyone again became God's bondsman.

He fell into the pit he had dug himself.

His own wickedness came down on his head.









No comments:

Post a Comment

From Medieval Shahrazur to Spain

Ibn Khaldun recounts the story of a Kurdish community from Shahrazur whose chiefs were driven from their homeland by the Mongol conquest and...

Popular posts