Ahmed Sanjar

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Mu'iz ud-Dīn Ahmad-e Sanjar (Turkish: Sultan Sancar) (1085 – May 8, 1157) was the sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire from 1118 to 1153. He was initially the sultan of Khorasan until he gained the rest of the territory upon the death of Muhammad I.

He was a son of Malik Shah I and participated in wars of succession against his three brothers and an uncle, namely Mahmud I, Barkiyaruq, Malik Shah II and Muhammad I. From 1097, Ahmed Sanjar was the ruler of most of Persia with his capital at Nishapur. A number of rulers revolted against him and split the Great Seljuk Empire.

According to Enno Franzius, Sanjar undertook a campaign to eliminate the Assassins of Alamut. However, enroute to their strongholds, Sanjar woke up one day to find a dagger beside him, pinning a note from Hassan Sabbah stating that he (Hassan) would like peace. Sanjar, shocked by this event, sent envoys to Hassan and they both agreed to stay out of each other's way.

In 1141, Sanjar marched to confront the Kara Khitai threat and engaged them near Samarkand. He suffered an astounding defeat — his first — and escaped with only fifteen of his elite horsemen.

Turkmen nomads captured Ahmed Sanjar in 1153 and held him until 1156. He died the following year and was buried at Merv, where his tomb was destroyed by the Mongols during their invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire.

Ahmed Sanjar married Turkan Khatun (d. 1156) and he had two daughters with her - wives of his nephew Mahmud.

After her death Ahemed Sanjar married Rusudan, daughter of Demetre I of Georgia, widow of sultan Masud Temirek. He had not children with her.