Ahmad Sanjar

Mu'iz ud-Dīn Ahmad-e Sanjar (Turkish: Sultan Sancar) (1084/1086 – May 8 1157) was the sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire from 1118 to 1153. He was initially the sultan of Khorasan until he gained the rest of the territory upon the death of Muhammad I.

He was a son of Malik Shah I and participated in wars of succession against his three brothers and an uncle, namely Mahmud I, Barkiyaruq, Malik Shah II and Muhammad I. From 1097, Ahmed Sanjar was the ruler of most of Persia with his capital at Nishapur. A number of rulers revolted against him and split the Great Seljuk Empire.

Turkmen nomads captured Ahmed Sanjar in 1153 and held him until 1156. He died the following year and was buried at Merv, where his tomb was destroyed by the Mongols during their invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire.