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The capture of Khwarazmshah by the Khita and his release

أسر خوارزم شاه من الخطا وخلاصه

c. 1207 CE · 604 AH

In 604 Khwarazmshah Ala al-Din Muhammad fought the Khita; the Muslims were routed in a shameful defeat and many were taken prisoner, among them the Khwarazmshah and a great amir, Ibn Shihab al-Din Mas'ud, whom one man captured together. Once taken, Ibn Mas'ud told him: 'You must set aside the sultanate in these days and become a servant; I will contrive your release.' The Khwarazmshah began to serve him, bringing him food, taking off his clothes and shoes for him and honouring him. The captor said to Ibn Mas'ud: 'I see this man honouring you; who are you?' He replied: 'I am so-and-so, and this is my servant.' The captor treated him kindly and left him for some days. Then Ibn Mas'ud said: 'I fear the fugitives may return without knowing where I am, hold mourning rites, and divide my property.' He set a ransom on him and told his captor: 'Your companions do not know our people, but this servant of mine I trust.' The captor let him go, sending horsemen to protect him. They travelled until they neared Khwarazm, and the horsemen turned back; the Khwarazmshah reached the city, the people rejoiced, drums were beaten and the city was decorated. His brother Ali Shah had proclaimed himself in Tabaristan and cut the khutba for him; Kizlik Khan took Nishapur, and the siege of Herat was resumed, waiting for the sultan to be lost. The Khwarazmshah set out for Khurasan and reached it on the sixth day with six horsemen; Kizlik Khan fled with his wealth 1.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks
Region
Persia & Central Asia
Review
Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it

In time

1190120012101220 c.
The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks · The Mongol and Post-Mongol Era

Battles

Overview

In 604 AH Khwarazm Shah Ala al-Din Muhammad fought the Khita, and the Muslims were defeated and many of them were taken captive. Among the captives was Khwarazm Shah, with a great emir, the son of Shihab al-Din Mas'ud. 2

Escape

Ibn al-Athir relates that Ibn Mas'ud told him to give up the sultanate and become a servant to his captor, so that he could plot his escape. He served him and brought him food. When the captor asked Ibn Mas'ud about him, he said that he was his slave. Then Ibn Mas'ud fixed a sum of money on himself and let his slave go; the captor sent him away with horsemen to protect him. 2

Return

He reached Khwarazm, and the people rejoiced at his return and the city was decorated. His brother Ali Shah had called himself ruler in Tabaristan and had taken Kazlak Khan of Nishapur. He marched to Khurasan and reached it on the sixth day with six horsemen, and Kazlak Khan fled with his wealth. 2

Connections

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Had participant
خوارزم شاه علاء الدين محمد

People and things also explored

The battle that destroyed the Khitai· Siege of Herat and the killing of Ibn Kharmil· Perishing of the Khwarazmshah on an island in the Caspian Sea· death of Khwarazmshah Tekish· Ibn Khurmail killed; Herat besieged again· Khwarazmshah takes Ghazna and its dependencies· Khwarazmshah seizes the Ghurid lands in Khurasan· the Khwarazmshah retakes what the Ghurids had seized

Sources

  1. al-Kamil fi'l-Tarikh of Ibn al-Athir , p. 335-336
  2. al-Kamil fi'l-Tarikh of Ibn al-Athir , p.335-336
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The capture of Khwarazmshah by the Khita and his release”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/khwarazmshah-captured-604/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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The battle that destroyed the Khitai

In 604 the surviving Khitai gathered under their king when word came that a great body of Tatars was advancing from beyond the lands of Turkistan under their king Kushli Khan, because of what Khwarazm-shah had done to the Khitai; they marched against them. The Khitai king sent to Khwarazm-shah asking him to overlook the past and come to his aid; Kushli Khan also sent to him, seeking his help against the Khitai, his enemies and the enemies of his fathers. Khwarazm-shah answered each that he was with him against the other, and marched his armies until he camped near the place of the encounter, without mixing with either side in a way that showed which he was, so that each took him to be on its side. The Khitai and the Tatars clashed, and the Khitai were routed in a great defeat. Khwarazm-shah fell upon them, killing, capturing and plundering; only a small band escaped, sheltering with their king in a place ringed by mountains with a single approach, and some of them joined his army. Kushli Khan then asked to share the lands of the Khitai, and Khwarazm-shah replied, 'You have nothing from me but the sword.' He advanced, courting him and raiding his baggage. Kushli Khan wrote to him: 'This is not the conduct of kings; it is the conduct of thieves. If you are a sultan, let us meet.' He did not answer, and ordered the people of Shash, Farghana, Isfijab and Kasan to leave for the lands of Islam, laying them waste for fear the Tatars would seize them. Then it happened that other Tatars, under their king Genghis Khan, rose against Kushli Khan and occupied him, and Khwarazm-shah crossed the river into Khurasan.