Uthman ibn Ibrahim was a
Karakhanid
The Kara-Khanid Khanate (; ), also known as the Karakhanids, Qarakhanids, Ilek Khanids or the Afrasiabids (), was a Turkic khanate that ruled Central Asia in the 9th through the early 13th century. The dynastic names of Karakhanids and Ilek K ...
ruler in
Transoxiana
Transoxiana or Transoxania (Land beyond the Oxus) is the Latin name for a region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to modern-day eastern Uzbekistan, western Tajikistan, parts of southern Kazakhstan, parts of Tu ...
from 1204 to 1212.
Biography
![Ruins of Afrasiyab](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Ruins_of_Afrasiyab.jpg)
Uthman was the son of the Karakhanid
Ibrahim ibn Hussein (1178-1202/1203).
[Karev, Yury. "Qarakhanid wall paintings in the citadel of Samarqand: first report and preliminary observations." Muqarnas 22 (2005), p.80.]
According to Karev, Uthman came to power in 1202/1203.
His residence was in Samarkand. According to
Aufi, who knew him personally, Uthman was a highly educated person.
[Karev, Yury. "Qarakhanid wall paintings in the citadel of Samarqand: first report and preliminary observations." Muqarnas 22 (2005), p.81.]
Uthman led a policy of maneuvering between the
Qara Khitai
The Qara Khitai, or Kara Khitai (), also known as the Western Liao (), officially the Great Liao (), was a Sinicized dynastic regime based in Central Asia ruled by the Khitan Yelü clan. The Qara Khitai is considered by historians to be an ...
and the Khwarezmshah
Muhammad b. Tekish. He bore a high Turkic title (ulug sultan as-salatin).
[Davidovich, E. A. (1998), "The Karakhanids", in Asimov, M.S.; Bosworth, C.E. (eds.), History of Civilisations of Central Asia, vol. 4 part I, UNESCO Publishing, p. 134-135.] However, Uthman soon went over to the side of the Qara Khitans. Later he entered into an alliance with Muhammad Khwarezmshah as a vassal of the latter. In 1209-10, coins were minted in the name of these rulers. After the recognition of the power of the Khwarezmshahs by Uthman, other Karakhanids who ruled in
Ferghana followed his example. Uthman married the daughter of Khwarezmshah Muhammad b. Tekish and went to live in Khwarezm. He returned to Samarkand, accompanied by the
Khwarezm military. Uthman was dissatisfied with the Khwarezmians and revolted in 1211. In 1212 Muhammad b. Tekish invaded the
Kara-Khanid Khanate
The Kara-Khanid Khanate (; ), also known as the Karakhanids, Qarakhanids, Ilek Khanids or the Afrasiabids (), was a Turkic khanate that ruled Central Asia in the 9th through the early 13th century. The dynastic names of Karakhanids and Ilek K ...
, conquered
Samarkand, and massacred the entire population. Uthman was executed following Samarkand's downfall.
References
Sources
*
*{{cite book , title=The New Islamic Dynasties , first=C.E. , last=Bosworth , publisher=Columbia University Press , year=1996
* Davidovich, E. A. (1998), "The Karakhanids", in Asimov, M.S.; Bosworth, C.E. (eds.), History of Civilisations of Central Asia, vol. 4 part I, UNESCO Publishing, p. 134-135.
* Kochnev B.D. Numizmaticheskaya istoriya Karakhanidskogo kaganata (991—1209 gg.). Moskva «Sofiya», 2006.
1212 deaths
Turkic rulers
13th-century Turkic people
Year of birth unknown
13th-century rulers in Asia