Manuchihr III of Shirvan

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

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. - didn't survive infancy, died around 1137/8.
6. - 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, , etc.

References[]