TheMaʾmunids (Persian:مأمونیان) were an independent dynasty ofIranian rulers^[1] inKhwarazm.^[2] Their reign was short-lived (995–1017), and they were in turn replaced by the expansionistGhaznavids.

Ma'munid dynasty
995–1017
Capital	Gurganj
Common languages	Khwarezmian
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Monarchy
Khwarazmshah
• 995-997	Ma'mun I ibn Muhammad(first)
• 1017	Abu'l-Harith Muhammad(last)
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Established	995
• Ghaznavid conquest of Khwarezm	1017
Preceded by Succeeded by Afrighids Ghaznavids

The ancientIranian kingdom ofKhwarazm had been ruled until 995 by the old established line ofAfrighids of Kath.^[2] Khwarazm, or the classical Chorasmia, was the well irrigated and rich agricultural region of lowerOxus. Surrounded on all sides by steppe land and desert, it was geographically isolated from other areas of civilization. This isolation allowed it to maintain a separate distinctiveIranian language and culture.^[2]

Under the Ma'munids, their capital of Gurganj became a centre of learning, attracting many prominent figures, such as the philosophersAvicenna andAbu Sahl al-Masihi, the mathematicianAbu Nasr Mansur, the physicianIbn al-Khammar, and thephilologistal-Tha'alibi. The Ma'munids also embellished their capital with buildings such as aminaret which still survives till this day, and has an inscription creditingMa'mun II (r. 1009–1017) its founder. However, the Ma'munids soon fell into conflict with theGhaznavidSultanMahmud (r. 999–1030), who sought to pressurize hisQarakhanid enemies by extending his rule into Khwarazm. In 1014, Mahmud demanded that Ma'mun II should add his name in thekhutba (Friday sermon) in Khwarazm, thus acknowledging his suzerainty. Unable to gain military assistance or appease Mahmud through other means, Ma'mun II was forced to accept his demands, much to the dislike of the Khwarazmian nobles and military officers.^[3][1]

This eventually resulted in a patriotic revolt, led by the commander-in-chief Alptigin, which led to the murder of Ma'mun II and accession of his nephewAbu'l-Harith Muhammad in March 1017. Ma'mun II was the brother-in-law of Mahmud, which afforded the latter a pretext to invade Khwarazm. The Ghaznavid army defeated the local Khwarazmian forces atHazarasp, brutalized the population of Gurganj, and captured many Khwarazmians, who were taken to the capital ofGhazni as slaves. Abu'l-Harith Muhammad was deposed and imprisoned, while Khwarazm was incorporated into the Ghaznavid realm, thus marking the end of the Ma'munid dynasty, the last ethnically Iranian line of Khwarazmshahs.^[3][1]

• Ma'mun I ibn Muhammad, 995–997
• Abu al-Hasan Ali, son of Ma'mun I, 997–1008/9
• Ma'mun II, son of Ma'mun I, 1008–09
• Abu'l-Harith Muhammad, son of Abu al-Hasan Ali, 1017

• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1968). "The Political and Dynastic History of the Iranian World (A.D. 1000–1217)". InBoyle, John Andrew (ed.).The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 5: The Saljuq and Mongol Periods. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–202.ISBN 0-521-06936-X.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1978)."K̲h̲wārazm-S̲h̲āhs". Invan Donzel, E.;Lewis, B.;Pellat, Ch. &Bosworth, C. E. (eds.).The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.Volume IV: Iran–Kha. Leiden: E. J. Brill.OCLC 758278456.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1984a)."Āl-e Afrīḡ".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. I, Fasc. 7. pp. 743–745.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1984b)."Āl-e Maʾmūn".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. I, Fasc. 7. pp. 762–764.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1989)."Altuntaš". InYarshater, Ehsan (ed.).Encyclopædia Iranica. Vol. III: Ātaš–Bayhaqī, Ẓahīr-al-Dīn. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 915.ISBN 978-0-71009-121-5.
• Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1996).The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. New York City: Columbia University Press.ISBN 0-231-10714-5.