Khwarazm Shahs, Ala ud-din Muhammad Bin Tekish, Silver Dirham (Ghazna Mint)

Ruler : Ala ud-din Muhammad Bin Tekish
Era : (AH 596-617, 1200-1220 AD)
Denomination : Silver Broad Dirham
Mint : Ghazna Mint
Weight : 5.72 grams
Dia : 25 mm
Reference : Album-1715

Obverse :
“Sultan al azam Ala al-Dunya wa al-Din Abu’l Fateh Muhammad bin Al Sultan”.

Reverse :
Shahada on top in two lines with “Al Nasir L’Deen Allah Amir al Mominin” at bottom within circle,

Comment :
In 612 AH (1215–1216 CE), Ghazna (modern-day Ghazni, Afghanistan) was seized by Sultan Muhammad II of Khwarezm (Muhammad Alauddin) from the Ghurid general Taj al-Din Yildiz. This was part of the power struggle in the region after the collapse of the Ghurid Empire.

Ghurid Empire's Decline: Following the death of Sultan Ghurid ruler Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad Ghori (1192–1206), the empire fractured, with its territories being contested by various regional powers, including the Khwarezmian Empire and local Ghurid governors like Yildiz.

Taj al-Din Yildiz: A Ghurid general and governor, Yildiz declared himself the successor to Mu'izz al-Din and took control of significant parts of the Ghurid realm, including Ghazna. However, his position was challenged by other claimants, including the Khwarezmian Sultan Muhammad II.

Muhammad II's Expansion: The Khwarezmian Empire under Muhammad II sought to capitalize on the Ghurid Empire's disintegration. In 1215 CE, Muhammad II attacked and captured Ghazna, displacing Taj al-Din Yildiz and consolidating Khwarezmian influence in the region.

This event is significant in the history of the medieval Islamic world as it marked the transition of power in the region and the increasing dominance of the Khwarezmian Empire until its downfall at the hands of the Mongols in the early 13th century.