CELALEDDIN HARZEMSAH


Celaleddin Harzemşah, who was the last ruler of Harzemşahlar State, was appointed as the governor of Gazne and its environs and took part in all expeditions of his father Alaaddin Mohammed afterwards. The epics of Celaleddin Harzemşah, the greatest ruler of Harzemşahlar State established in Harzem region after Seljukian Empire, constitute one of the brightest pages of Turkish history. Alaeddin Mehmet, one of the Harzemah rulers had seized all of Iran and Maveraünnehir. He had established a great empire extending from Seyhun river to the shores of Tigris.

However, in those days, Genghis Khan appeared in Mongolia. Another big ruler in Western Turkish territory was Alaeddin Mehmet. Genghis Khan, who heard the reputation of this Turkish ruler, sent a messenger named Mahmut Yalvaç, to Alaeddin Mehmet.

The messenger conveyed the following words of Genghis: “God gave your country in the West to you. I accept you as my son. If you got dependant on me, Muslims will live in comfort”. Sultan Mehmet, getting angry with these words said: “You know that my country is wide and my state is strong! Who is your Khan to call me my son thinking himself of bigger than me. How many soldiers does he have!”. The Mongol messenger replied: “The proportion of soldiers to yours is like sunlight compared to moonlight”.

At last, these two rulers signed a friendship agreement. However, Alaeddin Mehmet’s political ideas were not sound. He was also a proud man. One day he had the goods of Mongol merchants carrying commodities to Byzantium looted, and killed them. Genghis, getting much angry with this event, decided to seize Western Turkish territories.

Alaeddin Mehmet had a son. His name was “Celaleddin”. He was the person who became famous as “Celaleddin Harzemşah” in the history. Celaleddin was both a smart and a stouthearted youth. His mother was Ayçiçek Hatun and his grandmother was Turkan Hatun. His father Alaeddin Mehmet was a good soldier but a weak politician. His rival Genghis Khan, was, on the contrary, a great politician but an ordinary commander. He made his commanders manage his wars.

Genghis Khan sent three messengers to Sultan Mehmet to demand compensation for the commodities of the merchants. One of these was a Turk named Bugra, and the other two were Mongols.

Alaeddin Mehmet decapitated Bugra and deported Mongols with defamation. Genghis Khan, having heard such defamation, marched toward Maveraunnehir with a great army in 1219.

Turks, finding out that Genghis is marching toward themselves, fortified Semerkant city immediately. Young hero Celaleddin Harzemşah took command of a great force consisting of horsemen. His father did not want to go to war. But his son said: Soldiers should see their Khan in front of them!, and took his father into the army.

Mongol forces were headed by elder son of Genghis Khan, Cuci. Mongol forces attacked Harzemşah Turks in a violent manner. Harzemşah army panicked upon such violence. However, Celaleddin Harzemşah attacked in such a manner on Mongols with his sword that he perturbed Mongols. The war came to an end at night. However, Cuci Khan did not remain idle. He fired all dead grass of the plain at midnight and gave off excessive smoke. He escaped with all of his forces behind that fire curtain availing himself of this position. Since Celaleddin did not have enough force, they gave up following.

Genghis Khan, hearing the defeat of Cuci, was grieved badly. Then he prepared an enormous army of 200.000 soldiers. Alaeddin Mehmet, who heard preparations of Mongols, went to Gazne and talked to Atabeys, and then set out to find soldiers.

However, Celaleddin Harzemşah considered the situation very dangerous. He withdraw his force consisting of Turkmen Oghuzes to the desert. Genghis Khan’s armies entered Buhara without resistance in 1220.

Genghis Khan entered Ulu Mosque in Buhara on his horse. He asked:
Is this the house of Sultan Mehmet?
No, this is God’s house! They replied.

Genghis Khan, immediately got down from his horse and addressed to the people as follows: O People! Your sins are so big. I am the divine punishment; I am a violent calamity of God for you. Your khan Sultan Mehmet is so guilty. He did a lot against us. I am here because of that. Now bring and put in front of me all of your wealth you own which you buried under the ground!

The people, fearing this idolater Mongol ruler, handed over all of their wealth they had concealed. His soldiers looted all Buhara. Then, Genghis Khan set out to Semerkant city, the high center of civilization of Western Turkish region. The people defended this city. Mongols, upon entering the city, put everybody to sword.