Khwarazmian Empire
Also known as Khwarezmian Empire, Khorezmian Empire, Chorasmian Empire, Empire of the Khwarazmshahs, Khwarazm
former empire in Central Asia
AI overview
The Khwarazmian Empire was a powerful state that ruled over parts of Central Asia, controlling important trade routes and cities in the region. It mattered historically because of its significant wealth, cultural influence, and strategic position, until it was destroyed by the Mongol invasions in the 13th century.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- 1220
- 5,000,000−20,000,000
- Status
- Empire (1170s–1221), Rump state (1225–1231)
- Capital
- Gurganj (1077–1212) Samarkand (1212–1220) Ghazni (1220–1221) Tabriz (1225–1231)
- Largest city
- Shahr-e Ray
- Common languages
- Persian (official) Arabic Cuman Oghuz
- Religion
- Sunni Islam
- Government
- Absolute monarchy
- 1077 1096 7
- Anushtegin Gharchai
- 1220 1231
- Jalal al-Din Mangburni
- Historical era
- Medieval
- Established
- c. 1077
- Mongol invasion of the khwarazmian empir
- 1219–1221
Article
The Khwarazmian Empire ( English: /kwəˈræzmiən/), or simply Khwarazm, was a culturally Persianate, Sunni Muslim empire of Turkic mamluk origin, ruled by the Anushtegin dynasty. The Khwarazmian Empire ruled large parts of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran from 1077 to 1231; first as vassals of the Seljuk Empire and the Qara Khitai (Western Liao dynasty), and from circa 1190 as independent rulers up until the Mongol invasion in 1219–1221.
The date of the founding of the state remains debatable. The dynasty that ruled the empire was founded by Anush Tigin (Gharachai), initially a Turkic slave of the rulers of Gharchistan, later a Mamluk in the service of the Seljuks. However, it was under Ala ad-Din Atsiz (r. 1127–1156), a descendant of Anush Tigin, that Khwarazm became independent from its neighbors.