Shah Malik


Shah Malik was the head of the Oghuz Yabghus of Jand and Yengi-kent, and was also Khwarazm Shah.

Life

Shah Malik held the title of Yabghu . 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.

His death

The Seljuks, however, would not allow Shah Malik to remain in Khwarazm. The Seljuk ruler Tughril and his brother Chaghri descended upon Khwarazm in 1042 and forced him from the province. He chose to flee to Kerman and then Makran. He was eventually captured in Makran and turned over to Chaghri Beg, who ended his life.
Shah Malik's wife Altun Jan Khatun married Tughril in around 1043, and his son Anoushirvan remained with him after her marriage.