DANISHMENDID.Malik Muhammad.(1134-1142).Ae Dirham.

Obv : KAIAN / ATOAC / MAXAM / ATIC(Great King of the Land of the Romans).
Greek inscription.

Rev : OMM /ΛHKICP / ACBCPω /MANIAC(nd Anatolia, Muhammad).
Greek inscription.
Album 1238.

Condition : Dark green patina with visible features.

Material : Copper.
Axis : 12h

Weight : 5.94 gr
Diameter : 26 mm

Malik Muhammad was a ruler of the Danishmendid dynasty, which controlled a significant portion of Anatolia in the 11th and 12th centuries. The Danishmendid dynasty emerged after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, when the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire, allowing several Turkish principalities to establish control over parts of Anatolia. The Danishmendids, named after their founder Danishmend Gazi, were one of the most powerful of these principalities, centered around the regions of Sivas, Tokat, and Amasya.

Malik Muhammad was a prominent figure within this dynasty, succeeding his father in the early 12th century. His rule is noted for its continued conflict with both the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, as the Danishmendids vied for control of territories in central and northern Anatolia. Under his leadership, the Danishmendid realm remained a significant force in the region, maintaining a degree of independence and power during a period of shifting allegiances and constant warfare between rival Turkish principalities, the Crusader states, and the Byzantine Empire.

One of Malik Muhammad’s notable achievements was his involvement in the ongoing struggle against the Byzantine Empire. Like his predecessors, he capitalized on the weakened state of Byzantium to expand Danishmendid influence. At the same time, he had to navigate the complex political landscape of Anatolia, which included dealing with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, a rival Turkish state that sought to dominate the entire region.

The Danishmendids under Malik Muhammad also continued to support efforts against the Crusaders, aligning themselves with other Muslim forces in the region to resist the expansion of Christian Crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean. His rule contributed to the Danishmendid dynasty’s reputation as a powerful and independent Turkish state, even as the larger Seljuk Sultanate of Rum continued to grow in strength.

Malik Muhammad's reign, however, also marked the beginning of the decline of the Danishmendid dynasty. The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum gradually absorbed much of the Danishmendid territory by the mid-12th century, following Muhammad's death. Despite this, the Danishmendids left a lasting legacy in Anatolian history, particularly for their role in the early Turkish presence in the region and their resistance against both Byzantine and Crusader forces.