Relations between Khwarazmshah State-Abbasid caliphate

The territories over which Khwarazmshah state dominated, hosted states such as Afrigoğulları, Altuntaşoğulları and Memunîler prior to this state. It was when Sultan Berkyaruk sent Kutbeddin to the region due to the turmoil occurring in the Harezm region and confirmed his sovereignty there that the first political structure of Harezm started. On the other hand, Abbasid control which started with the disappearance of the Umayyads having come into power after the Islamic State continued its existence in the region. The initial relations between these two states started with El-Müsterşid and Atsız, the Harezm sultan during that period. At the beginning of his reign, Atsız competed against Sencer. Meanwhile, Abbasid caliph was also in the struggle to break the dependency on Seljuks. Atsız initiated relations with Abbasid caliph so that he could take advantage of the fact that he was already at loggerheads with Sencer. Because he aimed to gain indepence by receiving the support of the caliph as well. It was only after Sencer's death that the Hârezmşahs could gain their independence. Meanwhile, the Karahitans were one of the important powers in the region. Another important power was the Iraqi Seljuk State. While Iraqi Seljuk Sultan Gıyaseddin was aiming to advance towards the Karahitans, he first wanted to improve his relations with the Abbasid caliph. For this reason, he contacted İl Arslan to play a role as a mediator. İl Arslan accepted this offer as he was not in favour of the caliph strengthening his control area. Although an agreement was signed between the Abbasid caliph and the Iraqi Seljuks with the support of İl Arslan, no attack was carried out against the Karahitans. Tekiş, who succeeded İl Arslan as the Khwarazm-Shah, first had to fight his brother Sultanşah and managed to defeat him. Having fought against the Karahitans, Tekiş then attacked Rey and managed to conquer the city after defeating Tuğrul the second. While returning from there to Hârezm, II, Tekiş was planning to carry out an attack against Tuğrul the second again. Tuğrul the second was simultaneously attacking the Abbasid territories. Caliph Nasir, disturbed by this situation, demanded Tekish to attack the Iraqi Seljuks and an agreement was conducted between the two sides. Tekish attacked the Iraqi Seljuks and also managed to defeat them. However, the agreement came to an end due to the disputes between them over sharing the control of Iraqi-Persian territories. During the reign of Alaeddin Muhammad, the Ghurids and Karahitays were destroyed. Hârezmşahs took control of the Iranian lands. Having already supported Ghurids and the Karahitays, the caliph Nasir, opposed this situation. Therefore, he used his religious power, cooperated with the Ismailis and intended to soften up the power of the Kharezm Shahs by getting in touch with Azerbaijan Atabegs. In the end, Abbasid caliph Nasır Lidinillah managed to defeat the Alâeddin Muhammed in the battle fought in Asadâbâd. Thus, the Abbasids escaped from the harezmshah pressure. Meanwhile, a wrong step by the Hârezmşahs towards the Mongols led to the Otrar catastrophe. Following this development, the Hârezmşahs began to lose power rapidly before the Mongols. Celaleddin Hârezmşah, who came to the forefront as a Khwarazmshah ruler in the struggle against the Mongols, was forced to escape to India when he lost his battle against the Mongol soldiers near the Pervan plain. Celaleddin, who had great difficulty living in India and returned to Iranian territories, launched raids to Khuzestan which was ruled by a slave of the Abbasid caliph and several Abbasi cities, He later wanted to establish a state there by capturing Tabriz. Although he intended to establish good relations with the Abbasids at the stage of establishing the state, it was not possible for him to receive support from the caliph due to the raids he conducted towards Khuzestan and other Abbasid cities. Although he requested to take refuge in the Abbasid caliph after losing Meraga against the Mongols, his request was not accepted and Khwarazmshah state was abolished following his death. Key Words: Hârezmşahs, Abbasids, İl Arslan, Atsız b. Muhammed, Nâsır Lidînillâh, Celâleddin Mengüberti, Alâeddin Muhammed Tekiş.