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Electronic Auction 409 8 Nov 2017
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ISLAMIC, Persia (Post-Seljuk). Khwarizm Shahs. Jalal al-Din Mangubarni. AH 617-628 / AD 1220-1231. AR Dirham (17mm, 3.06 g, 11h). Citing Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir. Uncertain mint. Struck circa AH 623/4-628 / AD 1226-1231. Kufic legend: Jalal al-Dunya wa | al-Din Mangubarn[i] | bin al-Sultan; above, Naskh legend Mangbr in two diagonal lines / Kufic legend: al-Mustansir | billah al-amir | al-mu'minin (al-Mustansir | billah al-amir | Commander of the faithful); floral ornament above. Cf. Tye 306/308 (for similar obv./rev. type); SNA Tübingen –; cf. Album 1745.2; ICV 1907. VF, toned, light cleaning scratches. Extremely rare.
From the BRN Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 297 (27 February 2013), lot 525.
Jalal al-Din Mangubarni was the son of Kkwarizm Shah Ala al-din Muhammad II. When his father fled west in the face of the Mongol invasion, Mangubarni fled with the bulk of the Khwarezmian army to the easten region of their domains. Pursued by a portion of the Mongol army, he mustered further forces against the invaders, finally meeting at the village of Parwan, near Ghazni. Outnumbered and led by an inexperienced general, the Mongols were soundly defeated. However, the victory was Pyrric for Mangubarni; his losses were such that he realized he could not face the next Mongol army that was sure to come, and was forced to continue fleeing towards the Hindu-Kush. The Battle of Parwan was the first significant defeat of a Mongol army, and so enraged Chingiz, that he personally led the next Mongol army that marched againt Mangubarni. The Khwarezmians knew they could not face Chingiz, and attempted to flee across the Indus River, but Mangubarni and part of his forces could not cross before the Mongols arrived. Mangubarni was defeated in battle, losing most of his army, but he managed to escape capture and spent three years in exile in India. He spent the remainder of his life attempting to regain Khwarezmian power in Persia, which brought him into contention not only with he Mongols, but also the Seljuks, Ayyubids, the Georgians, and many others. At times, he was able to hold territory, but he was never able to constitute a large enough army to secure his gains, and he was constantly forced to flee from region to region. In 1231, while he was in Azerbaijan, the Mongols sent another army against him. Unable to gather a suitable army, Mangubarni decided to flee, and was murdered while passing through the city of Diyarbakir. Mangubarni was a formidable leader, having many successes against his enemies, but never had enough power to secure his rule. His most important victory, though, was his first, against the Mongols at the Battle of Parwan, which demonstrated that the Mongols could be defeated. Soon after the battle, the Mongols were faced with numerous rebellions, and their continued advances west were slowed as more leaders decided to resist them, rather than submit when they appeared.
From the BRN Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 297 (27 February 2013), lot 525.
Jalal al-Din Mangubarni was the son of Kkwarizm Shah Ala al-din Muhammad II. When his father fled west in the face of the Mongol invasion, Mangubarni fled with the bulk of the Khwarezmian army to the easten region of their domains. Pursued by a portion of the Mongol army, he mustered further forces against the invaders, finally meeting at the village of Parwan, near Ghazni. Outnumbered and led by an inexperienced general, the Mongols were soundly defeated. However, the victory was Pyrric for Mangubarni; his losses were such that he realized he could not face the next Mongol army that was sure to come, and was forced to continue fleeing towards the Hindu-Kush. The Battle of Parwan was the first significant defeat of a Mongol army, and so enraged Chingiz, that he personally led the next Mongol army that marched againt Mangubarni. The Khwarezmians knew they could not face Chingiz, and attempted to flee across the Indus River, but Mangubarni and part of his forces could not cross before the Mongols arrived. Mangubarni was defeated in battle, losing most of his army, but he managed to escape capture and spent three years in exile in India. He spent the remainder of his life attempting to regain Khwarezmian power in Persia, which brought him into contention not only with he Mongols, but also the Seljuks, Ayyubids, the Georgians, and many others. At times, he was able to hold territory, but he was never able to constitute a large enough army to secure his gains, and he was constantly forced to flee from region to region. In 1231, while he was in Azerbaijan, the Mongols sent another army against him. Unable to gather a suitable army, Mangubarni decided to flee, and was murdered while passing through the city of Diyarbakir. Mangubarni was a formidable leader, having many successes against his enemies, but never had enough power to secure his rule. His most important victory, though, was his first, against the Mongols at the Battle of Parwan, which demonstrated that the Mongols could be defeated. Soon after the battle, the Mongols were faced with numerous rebellions, and their continued advances west were slowed as more leaders decided to resist them, rather than submit when they appeared.