SELJUQ of RUM.Kaykhusraw III.(1266-1284).Konya 670 AH.Dirham.

Obv : السلطان الاعظم / غياث الدنيا و الدين / كيخسروبن قلج / ارسلان.

Rev : الملك لله.

Condition : This coin is in good condition with well-defined inscriptions. The patina is a bright silver, showing minimal wear and a slight shine, indicating careful preservation. There are minor tarnish spots on the surface, which is common for silver coins of this age, giving it an authentic aged appearance.Extrelemy fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis : 12h

Weight : 2.81 gr
Diameter : 23 mm

Kaykhusraw III, who reigned as the Sultan of the Seljuq Sultanate of Rum from 1265 to 1284, is remembered as a figurehead ruler during a period of significant decline in the Seljuq state. By the time of his reign, the Sultanate of Rum had already faced considerable setbacks due to internal strife, external invasions, and growing Mongol influence. The weakening of central authority during his rule was emblematic of the challenges faced by the Seljuq sultans in the later 13th century.

Kaykhusraw III ascended to the throne during a period when the Sultanate had become a vassal of the Mongol Empire, specifically the Ilkhanate, following the defeat of his predecessors by the Mongols. The Battle of Köse Dağ in 1243 had dealt a major blow to the Seljuq Sultanate of Rum, leaving it severely weakened and under Mongol suzerainty. By the time Kaykhusraw III came to power, the sultans of Rum had very little autonomy, and they largely functioned as puppet rulers under the direct control of Mongol administrators and governors.

The political reality of Kaykhusraw III's reign was one of limited authority. The real power in the region was held by the Mongol overlords, who not only controlled military affairs but also influenced the internal administration of the Sultanate. Kaykhusraw III had to navigate the delicate balance between maintaining the semblance of Seljuq sovereignty and satisfying the demands of his Mongol masters. This situation limited his ability to enact independent policies, and much of his reign was characterized by passivity and submission to Mongol authority.

During his reign, Anatolia was marked by increasing instability. The Mongol presence in the region was heavy-handed, and their taxation policies placed significant burdens on the local population. The heavy taxes, coupled with the decline of central authority, led to widespread discontent among both the peasantry and the urban elite. Various local factions and warlords began to assert more control over different parts of Anatolia, further fragmenting the once powerful Sultanate of Rum.

At the same time, Kaykhusraw III faced internal challenges from rival factions within the Seljuq elite. These rivalries often revolved around who would control the limited authority remaining within the Sultanate, as different groups sought favor with the Mongols or aimed to carve out spheres of influence for themselves. The weakening of the Seljuq state during this period can also be seen in the growing power of local Turkish beyliks, which emerged as semi-independent states, filling the power vacuum left by the declining authority of the Seljuqs.

Despite the political turmoil, the reign of Kaykhusraw III saw some continued cultural and architectural developments, though at a much-reduced scale compared to the earlier periods of Seljuq rule. The Seljuq Sultanate of Rum had long been a center of art, architecture, and learning, and some of this cultural momentum continued even during the troubled years of Kaykhusraw III’s reign. Anatolia remained a crossroads of cultures, and the Seljuq legacy of artistic and architectural achievements continued to leave its mark on the region. However, the ability of the sultan to sponsor large-scale projects or assert his cultural authority was severely limited by the dominance of Mongol power and the internal fragmentation of his realm.

Kaykhusraw III’s reign ended in 1284 when he was executed, likely on the orders of the Mongols. His death marked the symbolic end of Seljuq authority in Anatolia. Although the Seljuqs would continue to exist as a nominal dynasty for some years, their political power had been irreversibly shattered, and the future of Anatolia would be shaped by the rise of new powers, particularly the Turkish beyliks, which would eventually lead to the emergence of the Ottoman Empire in the following centuries.

In summary, Kaykhusraw III was a figurehead sultan who ruled the Seljuq Sultanate of Rum during a time of political decline and Mongol domination. His reign was marked by limited authority, the heavy influence of Mongol overlords, and internal fragmentation. While his reign saw the continuation of some cultural developments, his inability to assert real political power reflected the broader decline of the Seljuq state, which by the end of his rule had lost most of its former strength and autonomy.