| Emir Gazi | |
|---|---|
| Melik Emir Ghazi | |
| Reign | 1104 – 1134 |
| Predecessor | Gazi Gümüshtigin |
| Successor | Melik Mehmed Gazi |
| Died | 1134 Sivas,Danishmendids, now Turkey |
| Father | Gazi Gümüshtigin |
Emir Gazi or known asEmir Melikgazi was the third ruler ofDanishmendids and the elder son ofGazi Gümüshtigin.
AfterGazi Gümüshtigin's death, the country was divided into two. Emir Gazi ruled Sivas and surrounding, while his brother Sungur tookMalatya. Sungur, later joinedSultanate of Rum which was under control ofKilij Arslan I. Emir Gazi was the father-in-law ofMesud I, son ofKilij Arslan I. After Kilij's death, in 1107, he supported Mesud, which resulted with him taking the throne in 1116. After this Emir Gazi expanded his powers.
He supported Mesud against Mesud's brother Melik Arab. In 1127, Melik Arab ambushed Emir Gazi's sonMelik Mehmed Gazi and took him as prisoner. Later Melik Arab marched on Emir Gazi which was resulted in heavy losses. Later he took refuge to Byzantines.[1]
In 1130, he allied withLeo I, Prince of Armenia against thecrusaderBohemond II of Antioch, who was killed in the subsequent battle; Bohemond's head was embalmed and sent to theAbbasidcaliph inBaghdad. Emir Gazi may have been able to conquer more territory in thePrincipality of Antioch if not for the intervention ofByzantine emperorJohn II Komnenos, who wished to exert his own influence in Antioch.
In 1131, he besieged thecastle of Kaysun (today near the village ofÇakırhüyük) in theCounty of Edessa, but retreated upon the arrival ofCount Joscelin, whom Melikgazi believed had already died.
As of 1134, Emir Gazi,Melik (the King) bestowed in recognition of their military successes by theAbbasidcaliphAl-Mustarshid.[2]
Emir Gazi died at Pazarören,Sivas in 1134, and the Danishmend state began to collapse under pressure from the Byzantines and theSultanate of Rum.
| Preceded by | Melik of theDanishmends 1104–1134 | Succeeded by |