#khorasan

Imam Reza Shrine/ Mashhad/ Iran

Khwarazmshah Il-Arslan at his coronation, miniature painting from the book Jami' al-Tawarikh (c. 1306–1314), written by Rashid al-Din.

In 1152, Il-Arslan was appointed governor of Jand, an outpost on the Syr Darya that had recently been reconquered by his father. When Atsïz died in 1156, Il-Arslan succeeded him as Shah of Khwarazm. Like his father, he chose to acknowledge the suzerainty of both the Seljuk sultan Sanjar and the Gurkhan of the Kara Khitay.

Sanjar’s death only a few months after Il-Arslan’s accession plunged the Great Seljuk realm of Khorasan into disorder. The ensuing chaos allowed Il-Arslan to cast off Seljuk authority, though he maintained amicable relations with Sanjar’s successor, Mas‘ud. The two were said to have contemplated a joint campaign against the Qara Khitay, though the alliance never came to fruition. Following his father’s example, Il-Arslan sought to extend his influence into Khorasan. In 1160, he actively intervened in the region by providing troops to local allies, yet despite the collapse of Seljuk central power, he achieved no lasting gains against the entrenched regional rulers.

In 1158, Il-Arslan involved himself in the affairs of another Qara Khitay vassal, the Karakhanids of Samarkand. The Karakhanid ruler Chaghrï Khan had persecuted the Qarluqs in his domain, prompting several of their chiefs to flee to Khwarazm and seek Il-Arslan’s aid. Responding to their appeal, he invaded Karakhanid territory, seized Bukhara, and laid siege to Samarkand, where Chaghrï Khan had taken refuge. The latter appealed for assistance to both the Turks of the Syr Darya and the Qara Khitay. The Gurkhan dispatched an army, but its commander hesitated to confront the Khwarazmians. Eventually, peace was brokered on terms compelling Chaghrï Khan to restore the Qarluq leaders to their former positions.

"Portuguese" Carpet with Maritime Scenes

Northeastern Iran, Khurasan, 17th century

Medium: Cotton (warp, weft, and pile); wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile

Used during the time of Genghis Khan - when Jews in Europe faced persecution - the cup reflects the vibrant Jewish communities of medieval Asia. A rare and remarkable survival from a distant era, it offers a glimpse into Jewish life along the world’s ancient trade routes.

Persian Carpet/ Khorasan made/ Iran

Afghan girls in refugee camp.