Khwarazmian Empire (خوارزمشاهیان) (jan 1, 1077 – jan 1, 1231)

Description:

The Khwarazmian or Khwarezmian Empire (English: /kwəˈræzmiən/), was a Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire that ruled large parts of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran in the approximate period of 1077 to 1231, first as vassals of the Seljuk Empire and the Qara Khitai (Western Liao dynasty), and later as independent rulers, up until the Mongol conquest in the 13th century.

It's estimated that the empire spanned over an area from 2.3 million square kilometers to 3.6 in the beginning of the 13th century, effectively making it one of the largest land empires in history.

The date of the founding of the state of Khwarazmshahs remains debatable. The dynasty that ruled empire was founded by Anush Tigin (also known as Gharachai), initially a Turkic slave of the rulers of Gharchistan, later a Mamluk in the service of Seljuqs. However, it was Ala ad-Din Atsiz, descendant of Anush Tigin, who achieved Khwarazm's independence from its neighbors.

In 1220, the Mongols under their ruler Genghis Khan invaded the Khwarazmian Empire, successfully conquering the whole of it in less than two years. Mongols exploited existing weaknesses and conflicts in the empire, besieging and plundering the richest cities, while putting its citizens to the sword in one of the bloodiest wars in human history.