Pursuant to the death of Tekis, his son, Alaeddin Muhammed
replaced him. His first important affair was the struggles with Gur sultans, Sihâbeddîn
(Muizeddîn Muhammed) and Gıyâseddîn. Gurlu people who had benefited from the turmoil
resulting from the change of the rulers captured the big cities such as Merv, Tus and
Nisabur easily. They also wanted to capture Khorasan from the Harezmshah State. Sultan
Alaeddin arranged the central affairs in order, and then, organised a military expedition
against Gurlu people in the year of 1201. He recaptured Nisabur, and invaded Merv and
Serahs. In the following year, he advanced towards Heart. But when he heard of the news
that the sultan Sihabeddin had moved against him, he retreated to Harezm. Sihabeddin
advanced towards Tus. He imposed heavy taxes on the people that could not be tolerated.
This attitude caused the arousal of hatred against him among the people. Meanwhile,
Sihabeddin heard of the news about the death of his brother, Giyaseddin, and he returned
to Herat. On the other
hand, Sultan Alâ ed-Din Muhammed benefited from the struggles for the throne among Gurlu
people that resulted from the death of Giyasadeddin. He wanted to capture Herat, but he
could not achieve any success. When he destroyed and despoiled the environs of Badgis, he
came in front of Merv (1204). Sihabeddin Guri advanced towards Harezm with a big army
(September 1204). Alaeddin Muhammed returned to Harezm with great speed and started its
preparation and precautions for defence. The tactic of Harezmshah State related with
flooding the country under water was of no use for this time, and Gurlu people besieged
the capital city, Gurgenc.
Harezmshah State could only get rid of this trouble with the support of
the forces of Sultan Osman from Karahanli State and the Karahitay forces. Gurlu people
received information about the arrival of these forces had to retreat with great speed.
Alaeddin Muhammed followed the Gurlu people who retreated and defeated the right branch of
these forces in Hezareb. Then, he returned to Gurgenc with a lot of prisoners and spoils.
Karahitay forces continued the chase and totally defeated the army of Sihabeddin near
Andhuy in a crushing manner. As a result, this struggles fought for the domination in
Khorasan resulted with the superiority with the Harezmshah State. However, the balance of
the forces was again broken up in favour of Karahitay State. This situation must have
frightened Alaeddin Muhammed so much that he tried to invigorate his friendship with
Sihabeddin and the two parties came to an agreement for the state of peace.
The murder of Sihabeddin in the course of a military expedition to
India (1206) caused the re-emergence of the struggles for the throne among Gurlu people
and the establishment of rival political organisations. These organisations were under the
dominion of Turkish commanders and the members of Gurlu dynasty. The dissolution of Gurlu
State suited the interest of Harezmshah State and Karahanli people. Husayn Harmil who was
the governor of Herat gave the delivery of the city to Harezmshah State and he maintained
his position. Alaeddin Muhammed captured Belh and transferred the castle of Tirmiz that
surrendered to him to Sultan Osman from the Karahanli State, therefore it was transferred
to the dominion of Karahitay State. However, this was a temporary precaution taken in
order to hinder the pressure and raids of Karahitay State towards the southern regions. As
a result, the new Gur sultan, Mahmud was submissive to Sultan Alaeddin Muhammed.
From that time on, there was only one target left for Alaeddin Muhammed
to accomplish, and this was the abolition of the Karahitaylar State. The first outbreak of
revellion in Herat and then the rebellion of Kezlik who was the governor of Nisabur
delayed the military expedition to be organised against them. When Sultan suppressed these
rebellions, he advanced towards Bokhara in the summer of 1207 and captured this city.
Then, he collaborated with Sultan Osman against the Karahitayli State. However, this
agreement led the Karahitay people to set in motion and they were able to defeat Alaeddin
Muhammed and increased their pressure upon him. As a result, Sultan Alaeddin Muhammed
organised a military expedition towards the Transoxania and passed over the River of
Seyhun. Then, he totally defeated the Karahitay forces within the environs of Endican
(September 1210).
Meanwhile, there were some important events occurring in the eastern
borders of the Karahitay State that would pose great threats for the future. Küçlük (Güçlük),
the chief of Nayman people who were forced to emigrate from Mongolia by Jenghiz joined the
Karahiyat people, and their ruler had become the son-in-law of the Gur Khan. Then, they
defeated the Karahitayli State and took Gur Khan as prisoner, and established dominion
over the state (1211). On the other hand, Sultan Osman from Karahanli State who had been
the son-in-law of the Harezmshah got closer with the Karahitay State again. Upon this
event, Alaeddin Muhammed killed him and abolished this branch of Karahanli State.
Therefore, the Transoxania had been definitely annexed to the Harezmshah State.
Although Alaeddin had the proper opportunity to diffuse his power and
influence towards the east, he could not succeed this under the difficulties. The
struggles with Gurlu people continued also in the south of the State. As a result,
Alaeddin Muhammed penetrated into Gazne and then established dominion in Firuzkuh that was
an important city of Gurlu people. Therefore, the lands of Gur people had been under the
domination of Sultan Alaeddin (1215). Afterwards, the regions extending towards Kirman,
Sistan and the Sea of Umun were annexed to the lands of Harezmshah State.
However, the sultan did not have good relations with the Abbasi Caliph,
el-Nasir. He had wanted to impose his influence over him, but he could not succeed this.
As a matter of fact, he declared that the post of caliphate pertained to the sons of Hz.
Ali and he appointed a descendant of the prophet named as "Ala" Tirmizi as the
caliph. Then, he sent an army to Baghdad, but this army suffered great casualties due to
the hard winter conditions and returned. Nevertheless, he did not deliver prayers in the
name of Abbasi Caliph. However, the prayers delivered in Samarkand, Herat and especially
Harezm were in the name of Abbasi Caliph. The most significant factor in this situation
was Terken Hatun who was the mother of the sultan. Sultan had a political struggle for
influence with his mother, and this situation undermined the internal structure of the
state.
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