Manuchihr III of Shirvan

Shirvanshah Manuchehr III The Great was the nineteenth independent Shah of Shirvan.[1]

Manuchehr III The Great
Shah of Shirvan
Reign1120 – 1160
Coronation1120
PredecessorShirvanshah Afridun I
SuccessorShirvanshah Afridun II
Born?
Shamakhi
Died1160
Shamakhi
SpouseTamar, daughter of David IV of Georgia
IssueShirvanshah Akhsitan I
Shirvanshah Farrukhzad I
Shirvanshah Shahanshah
Shirvanshah Afridun II
Prince Fariburz
Princess Alchichek
Names
Abul Huja Fakhraddin Al-Malik Manuchehr
HouseHouse of Shirvanshah
FatherShirvanshah Afridun I

Reign

Manuchihr III was in a shifting balance of power between the Kingdom of Georgia and the Seljuks. He lost many castles to David IV of Georgia and his son Demetrius I of Georgia in 1117 and 1120. After a decisive victory for David IV at the Battle of Didgori, Manuchihr again began negotiations with Georgia. The Seljuk Sultan Mahmud attacked Shirvan and took Manuchihr hostage as punishment for Manuchihr's betrayal. David attacked and defeated the Seljuk Sultan again, but his armies devastated Shirvan. Manuchihr regained power in Shirvan upon David's death in 1125 and started friendly relations with his brother-in-law Demetrius.

Kipchak Rebellion

Contemporary poet Falaki Shirvani notes about his victories on suppressing rebellious Kipchak tribes and county of Arran. He postponed invasion of Syria and Iraq next years.[2]

Death

In the last years of his rule, Manuchihr exposed a conspiracy and defeated a coup d'état against him and his 60 notable members of palace, including Khaqani. He died suddenly in 1160.

Family

He was married to daughter of David IV of Georgia - Tamar with whom he had issue:

  1. Shirvanshah Akhsitan I
  2. Shirvanshah Farrukhzad I
  3. Shirvanshah Shahanshah
  4. Shirvanshah Afridun II 'the Lionheart' [3] - was designated heir.
  5. Prince Fariburz - didn't survive infancy, died around 1137/8.
  6. Princess Alchichek - didn't survive infancy, died around 1137/8..
Gates of Baku is one of major legacies of III Manuchehr.

Legacy

His reign is mostly known from works of his court poets - Khaqani, Falaki Shirvani, Mujiraddin Baylaqani, etc.

References
  1. S. Ashurbeyli – Shirvanshahs, Baku, 2007
  2. Diwan-i Falaki, p 810-811, 724
  3. Гафар Кендли, c.126, 141-144
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