Melik Zünnun


Melik Zünnun was the fifth ruler of Danishmendids.

Life

First rule

Zünnun was declared as successor by his father Melik Mehmed Gazi, however he was derecognized by Yağıbasan. Yağıbasan and his other two brother Ayn el-Devle and Nasreddin Muhammed marched into Kayseri and Zünnun took refuge to Mesud I which was his father-in-law. Mesud wanted to incorporate Danishmends to Sultanate of Rum.

Second rule

After Melik İsmail was killed in a palace revolt, Zünnun was in Syria at the time. With the support of Nuraddin Zengi, he entered Sivas with 3,000 troops. However after death of Nur ad-Din, the troops returned back to Syria. Kilijarslan II started to attack Danishmendids and took Sivas, Niksar and Tokat.
Zünnun took refuge in Byzantine Empire, and the Sivas branch of Danishmendids were collapsed.