Artuq Arslan

Nasir al-Din Artuq Arslan (ruled 1200–1239) was a ruler of the Artuqids of Mardin. The "Mardin branch" of the Artuqids ruled in Mardin and Mayyafariqin from 1101 to 1409, and were primarily descendants of Ilghazi and his brother Alp-Yaruq. His predecessor was his father Yuluq Arslan.

On the reverse of his coins dated AH 628 (1230 CE), Artuq Aslan inscribed the names of two overlords, the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir and the Ayyubid ruler al-Kamil. At that time, in 1229, the Ayyubids were allied with various Turkomans, including Artuq Aslan, in order to repel the offensive of the exiled Khwarazmshah ruler Jalal al-Din from his base in Armenia. They defeated Jalal al-Din and his Artuqid ally Rukhun al-Din Mawud (cousin of Artuq Aslan) in 1230.

The Ayyubids continued their expansion into Diyarbakr by attacking the Artuqid ruler Rukn al-Dīn Mawdūd (r.1222–1232/33) in his territories of Hisn Kayfa and Amid in 1231-1232. Around 1234, Artuq Aslan changed his allegiance to the Seljuk Rums, fearing further Ayyubid expansion into his territory of Mardin. The Ayyubids were defeated by the Seljuk Rums ruler Kayqubad I in 1234. The Ayyubids renounced retribution against Artuq Aslan when they learnt of the Mongol invasion of Jazira from the east.

The lands of the Artukid dynasty fell to the Mongol invasion sometime between 1235 and 1243. The Artuqids submitted to Mongol khan Hülegü and continued to govern as vassals of the Mongol Empire.

References

1. Artuqids
2. Yuluq Arslan
3. Oghuz Turks
4. Döğer (tribe)
5. George III of Georgia
6. Diyarbakır
7. Battle of Didgori
8. Rukn al-Dawla Da'ud
9. Ilghazi
10. Nur al-Din Muhammad
11. List of state leaders in the 18th century
12. Crusader states
13. David IV