DOMINION OF KHWARAZMSHAH JALAL AL-DIN AND THE MONGOL RULE IN AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

The period, spanning between 1220 and 1250s in the South Caucasus, as well as in Azerbaijan, is marked by significant events, such as the Mongol campaigns and Khwarazmshah Jalal al-Din's short rule in the region. The both Khwarazmshahs and Mongols established their rule here, having some similarities and differences of the governance. The Persian historical literature, as well as other textual sources contain various information concerning the period. The presented paper is devoted to investigating the mentioned issue, based on these sources. The study aims to examine the features of the Mongols and the Khwarazmshahs governing, and their consequences in the region. Azerbaijan became the target of Jalal al-Din’s campaign, after the fall Khwarazmshahs due to the Mongol conquest Jalal al-Din conquered cities such as Maragha, Tabriz, Ganja and compelled the Shirvanshahs to vassalage. As a consequence of the second campaign of the Mongol general Chormagan, Jalal al-Din withdrew from Azerbaijan, bringing the entire South Caucasus under the Mongol control. These historical events were scrutinized through a comparative analysis and interpretation of other textual sources and scholarly works. Examining these issues through contemporary sources enables the clarification and objective analysis of political events, as well as economic and social conditions in the South Caucasus during that era