Historical Studies

Historical Studies

The Fall of the Khwarazmshahs Dynasty from the Point of View of the Historians of the Ilkhanid Era

Document Type : ..

Authors
1 Phd student of Iranian history after Islam, Imam Khomeini International University, QAZVIN, IRAN
2 Associate Professor of History, Imam Khomeini International University, QAZVIN, IRAN
3 Professor of History, Imam Khomeini International University, QAZVIN، IRAN
Abstract
Abstract
Analysis of the causes of the decline and fall of previous governments has always been the focus of historians of every era. Examining the views of these historians in this context can reflect the perception of the ruling system in that period in relation to the previous government. The historiography of the Ilkhanid period is an outstanding example for the analysis of this issue due to the emergence of the greatest Persian - language historians in this era. With this description, this article,using adescriptive-analytic provided with a descriptive-analytical method and based on the method of collecting library information, method to answer the main question that the historians of the Ilkhanid era have investigated the causes of the fall of the Khwarazmshahs with what approach and attitude? The findings of this research, which is based on the content analysis of historical historiography texts such as: Attamalek Jovini, Khwaja Rashiduddin Fazlullah Hamdani, Hamdullah Mostofi, Wasaf Shirazi and Shahabuddin Nesavi, show that the historians of the Ilkhanid have not considered of the Khwarazm Shahs solely as a result of the invasion of the Mongols and general elements such as divine providence and human factors, internal and border causes were considered effective in the fall of the Khwarizm Shahid government, although each of these historians focused on more cases.
Keywords: Historiography, The Fall of the Khwarazmshahs, Historians of the Ilkhanid Era.
 
Introduction
With the invasion of the Mongols to Iran and the Islamic world and the overthrow of the Khwarazmshahs in 616 AH and the extinction of the Ismailis in 654 AH and finally the end of the Abbasid rule in 656 AH, one of the biggest and most important events in the Islamic world and Iran took place. Naturally, these events have been described and elaborated by the historians of the Ilkhanid era. The ferocity of the Mongol attack and the inability of the Khwarazmshahs to respond to it and their early fall made historians more or less implicitly investigate the grounds, causes and reasons for the rapid fall of the Khwarazmshahs.
Background of the research: Regarding the historiography of the Ilkhanid era and considering the extent of historical developments, many researches have been done, which can be mentioned: the article "Reflection of Providential Thought in the Historiography of the Ilkhanid Era" (with emphasis on the history of Jahangasha and Date and description): Mehbobe Sharfi (2012); He pointed out that the author's emphasis in this article is more on the providential thought of historians during the Ilkhanate period, and also the article "The thought of divine providence in Islamic historiography (case study, history of Jahangasha Jovini"), Ismail Hassanzadeh (1380) also deals with the role of divine providence in historiography. Refers. In these two articles, the focus of the discussion is based on the thought of providence and destiny, but in the present research, both the main views of the thought of providence and realism, as well as the issue of the fall of the government from the perspective of historians, are discussed. Other works in this field include: Doctoral thesis "The course of historiography in Persian language in Iran from the beginning to the end of the Nasrid era" by Ali Salari Shadi (1383); And the book "Religion and Government in the Mongol Period", volume one, Shirin Bayani (1400), which provides a systematic historiography of the course of political developments of the entry and attacks of the Mongols in Iran and the fall of the Khwarezm Shahs using the main sources of this period. All the above researches and researches are valuable works and can be cited in this field and historiography, but regarding the issue of the fall of the Khwarizmshah dynasty and its factors, from the point of view of historians, no comprehensive and independent research has been conducted, which is one of the strengths of this research.
Methodology
In this research, on the source of this main question, with what approach and attitude did the historians of the Ilkhanid era investigate the causes of the fall of the Khwarazmshahs, from the point of view (historiography and historiography) of prominent historians of this period such as Attamalek Jovini, Khwaja Rashiduddin Fazlullah Hamdani, Hamdullah Mostofi, Wasaf Shirazi and Shahabuddin Nesavi will be discussed in this context. Although it should be noted, Nesavi is one of the historians of the Khwarazmshahi era, but due to being ahead of the historians of the Ilkhanid era and in terms of comparing the views and influencing the historians after him; First, the views of this historian of the Khwarazmshahi period will be discussed. Also, in examining the historical sources of this period, paying attention to the historian's time and his social position is of particular importance and actually plays a fundamental role in the historian's historiography. With this description, this article,using adescriptive-analytic provided with a descriptive-analytical method and based on the method of collecting library information, method to answer the main question that the historians of the Ilkhanid era have investigated the causes of the fall of the Khwarazmshahs with what approach and attitude?
 
Discussion
The main focus of this research is the fall of the Khwarazmshah dynasty from the perspective of the historians of the Ilkhanid era, the approach and historiography of historians such as Attamalek Jovini, Khwaja Rashiduddin Fazl Elham Hamdani, Hamdaleh Mostofi, and Wasaf are reviewed and compared with the feminist perspective of the historians of the Khwarazmshahi era. It has been done because it preceded the historians of the Ilkhanid era in the subject under discussion. The process of the discussion in the article is as follows: first, the historian is described from different aspects, and things such as his social position, knowledge, distance and proximity to the court are examined And then his historiography on the issue of the fall of the Khwarezm Shahs government has been paid attention to in three levels: external factors, internal factors and the role of divine destiny and providence and the historian's rationalistic point of view. A comparison is provided. At the same time, the reason for the historian's approach to the issue of the causes of the fall of the Khwarezm Shah dynasty is also emphasized.
Conclusion
The views of the historians of the Ilkhanid period regarding the decline and fall of the Khwarezm Shah dynasty were criticized on three general levels: internal and external factors, and the role of destiny and divine providence. The critical, realist and rationalist historians of the Ilkhanid era refer to the issue of destiny and divine providence, such as Wasaf and Mustafi, can originate from the historian's religious beliefs and the social conditions of the time. On the other hand, historians such as Khwaja Fazlullah, who emphasize divine destiny and providence, cite many reasons and human factors for the fall of the Khwarazm Shahs due to highlighting the role and political power of the Mongols.
Among the internal factors, historians point to the lack of military and defense measures, the lack of unity and unity of Iranians, the role of agents and rulers, religious policies, disputes between courtiers and power struggles, the lack of attention of the Khwarazmshahs to different social classes, and external factors to regional politics and development. The request of the Mongols and the Khwarazmshahs, Genghis Khan's decision to attack Iran, the military might and power of the Mongols, defense and military policies, the foreign relations of the Khwarazmshahs with the Caliph and the Mongols have been mentioned. In addition to political and military factors and the role of kings and courts, historians have also studied the role of people and social and economic factors.
Keywords

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Volume 15, Issue 1 - Serial Number 29
Spring and Summer 2024-2025
September 2024
Pages 147-178

  • Receive Date 26 November 2023
  • Revise Date 13 May 2024
  • Accept Date 02 June 2024