The Danishmendids  
  The Danishmendids ruled in north-central and eastern Anatolia from 1071/1075 to 1178. The dynasty centered originally around Sivas, Tokat, and Niksar in central-northeastern Anatolia; they extended as far west as Ankara and Kastamonu for a time, and as far south as Malatya, which they captured in 1103. In the early 12th century, Danishmends were rivals of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, which controlled much of the territory surrounding the Danishmend lands, and they fought extensively against the Crusaders.   The dynasty was established by Danishmend Gazi for whom historical information is rather scarce and was generally written long after his death. They established themselves in Anatolia in the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, in which the Seljuks defeated the Byzantine Empire and captured most of Anatolia. Gazi took advantage of the dynastic struggles of the Seljuks upon the death of the Sultan Suleyman I of Rûm in 1086 to establish his own dynasty in central Anatolia. The capital was likely first established in Amasia.  The header map shows Anatolia in 1097, before the Siege of Nicaea.  
 

References:

Album Checklist

Estelle J. Whelan, 'A Contribution to Danishmendid History: The Figured Copper Coins' American Numismatic Society, Museum Notes 25, The American Numismatic Society, New York , 1980

 

  
     
  Amir Ghazi, 497-528 AH, 1104-1134 AD    
         
  Malik Muhammad, 528-536 AH, 1134-1142 AD     
         
  MALATYA: Ayn al-Dawla Isma'il, 536-547 AH, 1142-1152 AD     
         
  MALATYA: Dhu'l-Qarnayn, 547-557 AH, 1152-1162 AD     
         
 

MALATYA: Nasir al-Din Muhammad, 557-565 & 570-573 AH,  1162-70 & 1175-78 AD

     
 
  • Danishmendids of Malatya, Nasir ad-Din Muhammad b. Zulkarneyn
  • 30.5 mm, 11.1 gm
  • Album checklist: 1241.2
  • RP-813
  813  
  MALATYA: Fakhr al-Din Qasim, 565-567 AH, 1170-72 AD.     
         
  KAYSERI: Imad al-Din Dhu'l-Nun, 536-570 AH, 1142-75 AD    
         
  SIVAS: Nizam al-Din Yaghi-Basan, 536-559 AH, 1142-64 AD Nisam al-Din Yaghi Basan was a key figure in the Danishmendid principality and ruled over the city of Sivas, one of the major centres of the dynasty. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain independence from the rising power of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, which sought to consolidate control over all of Anatolia. Yaghi Basan, like other Danishmendid rulers, faced continuous pressure from the Seljuks, who were expanding their influence in the region.  
 
  • Ibn Malik Danishmand as the Commander of the Faithful. Diademed and draped bust right.
  • Reverse Legend: The Just King / Nizam al-Din Yaghi Bassan / son of Malik Ghazi.
  • 27.9 mm, 10.25 gm
  • Album checklist: 1245
  • RP-812
   812  
  SIVAS: Shams al-Din Isma'il, 559-567 AH, 1164-72 AD