Shah Malik

Shah Malik was the head of the Oghuz Yabghus of Jand and Yengi-kent (two towns near the mouth of the Syr Darya), and was also Khwarazm Shah (1041–1042).

Shah Malik held the title of Yabghu (the traditional leader of the Oghuz). In 1034 the Seljuks, who were enemies of the Yabghus, entered Khwarazm at the invitation of its Ghaznavid governor, Harun. In a battle between Shah Malik and the Seljuks the latter were defeated and forced to seek refuge in Ghaznavid Khurasan.

In 1038 the Ghaznavid sultan Mas'ud invested Shah Malik with the title of Khwarazm Shah. He did so in the hopes that Shah Malik would overthrow Harun's successor, Isma'il, who had become an enemy of the Ghaznavids. In the winter of 1040/1041 Shah Malik led his forces across the desert into Khwarazm. After fighting a long battle against Isma'il's troops he emerged victorious, forcing Isma'il to flee. He occupied the capital, Gurganj and placed Mas'ud's name in the khutba, although by this time Mas'ud was dead.

The Seljuks, however, would not allow Shah Malik to remain in Khwarazm. The Seljuk ruler Toğrül and his brother Chaghri descended upon Khwarazm in 1042 and forced him from the province. He chose to flee to Kerman and then Makran (his territories of Jand and Yengi-kent may have been occupied by the Kipchaks, preventing him from returning there). He was eventually captured in Makran and turned over to Chaghri, who ended his life.

References

• "Altuntas." Encyclopædia Iranica. 15 November 2006. <http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/altuntas>