Origins & Early Life

'Alā' al-Din Muhammad II (Persian: علاءالدین محمد خوارزمشاه; full name: Ala ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Abul-Fath Muhammad Sanjar ibn Tekish) was the Shah of the Khwarazmian Empire from 3 August 1200 to December 1220. His ancestor was Anushtegin Gharchai, a Turkic Ghulam who eventually became a viceroy of a small province in Central Asia named Khwarazm. The expansion seen under the rule of Muhammad constituted the pinnacle of the developing Khwarazmian military culture, and in various campaigns of conquest created a realm extending from Shirvan to the Indus river and the outer periphery of Mongolia after defeating his adversaries, namely the Qara Khitai, Ghurids, and Eldiguzids. He was able to rally as much as 400,000 men, and with these massive tribal armies his empire was as large as 2,400,000-3,600,000 km².

Pivotal Works & Achievements

By 1218, he brought the empire to its political and military zenith, but after a skirmish with the Mongols, Muhammad's realm was destroyed when they entered into Transoxiana and sacked Gurganj, Bukhara, his capital in Samarkand, Otrar, Herat among others. Muhammad died on the Caspian island of Ashur-Ada in December 1220. Ala ad-Din Muhammad II was born Qutb ad-Din Muhammad...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Dominic de Guzmán — Contemporary (Born in 1170) (1170): Founder of the Dominican Order, a pivotal figure in medieval religious life.
• Fibonacci — Contemporary (Born in 1170) (1170): Pioneering Italian mathematician who popularized the Hindu-Arabic numeral system in the West.
• Hermann von Salza — Contemporary (Born in 1170) (1170): Fourth Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, overseeing expansion into Prussia.
• Alexander Nevsky — Contemporary (Born in 1220) (1220): A pivotal Grand Prince of Novgorod and defender of Russian Orthodoxy.
• Jalal-ud-Din Khalji — Contemporary (Born in 1220) (1220): Founder of the Khalji Dynasty and Sultan of Delhi (1290-1296)
• Llywelyn ap Gruffudd — Contemporary (Born in 1220) (1220): The last native Prince of Gwynedd, who claimed the title of Prince of Wales.
• Albertus Magnus — Historical peer (Born in 1200) (1200): Pioneering medieval philosopher, scientist, and Dominican friar.
• Dōgen — Historical peer (Born in 1200) (1200): Founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan, known for zazen practice.
• Roger Bacon — Historical peer (Born in 1220) (1220): Medieval English polymath, philosopher, and scientist emphasizing empiricism.
• Jayavarman VII — Historical peer (Died in 1218) (1218): Powerful Khmer monarch who championed Buddhism and built extensive welfare infrastructure.
• 1170 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1170
• 1220 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1220