shah Principality
This principality was also called as Ahlatshah principality and Sokmenliler principality. Kutbeddin Ismail who had been the son of Sultan Melikshahs uncle was appointed to the general governorship of Azerbaijan in the year of 1080. Sokmen who had been one of the commanders of Kutbeddin Ismail was the guard (assistant-servant) of Kutbeddin Ismail who had been son of Yakuti who was the uncle of Melikshah, the sultan of the Great Seljuk State. He had proved himself within a short time and had been appointed as a commander through rapid promotions. Sokmen who acquired fame through his justice and kindness was invited to the city of Ahlat upon the ill treatment of the emir that dominated in Ahlat. Sokmens soldiers penetrated into Ahlat and took the delivery of the city. He founded a government, in other words, a bey principality in this city. His family was called as Ahlat Shah (Ahlatşahlar) and Ermenshah family.
Sokmen Bey captured Meryafarikin in the year of 1108, but this city was captured by Artuklu principality upon his death (1121).
Ahlatshah principality maintained their power in the course of the struggles for influence among the neighbouring bey principalities (Artuklu, Saltuklu, and Mengucuk bey principalities). They expanded their borders of domination towards Kars in the second half of the century XII. However, Eyyubi State subdued this principality in the course of the period of Izzettin Balaban bey in the year of 1207. Due to his successful services, Ahlat and the environs of Van had been given to him as feoffs by Melik Muhammed Tapar, and thus, the Ermenshah State had been founded (1100). Sokmen had also joined in the wars carried out against the Crusades and he died in the course of a military expedition organised against the Crusades. The childhood years of Sokmen II who was one of the emirs of this principality between 1128 and 1185 had passed in depression. However, the Ermenshah State had experienced its supreme and glorious era in his period.
The expansionist policy of Salahaddin Eyyubi posed a dangerous threat for the Eastern Anatolian States. Sokmen II tried to obstruct this danger together with the neighbouring beys. On the other hand, Ilgazi from Artuklu principality had died (1184) and his son, Husameddin Yavlak Arslan had replaced him at a very young age upon his death. Sokmen II intervened in the domination of Artuklucountry since Yavlak Arslan was his maternal uncle.
Eyyubi State did not give up their purpose of domination upon the Turkish states in the Eastern Anatolia. As a matter of fact, Izzeddin Balaban who was one of the slaves of Sokmen II tried to dominate in the administration of the principality. Necmeddin Eyyubi who was the ruler of Meyyafarikin wanted to get the advantage of this conflict and advanced towards Ahlat. Balaban asked help from Tugrul-shah who was the ruler of Erzurum against him. These two rulers defeated Necmeddin. However, Tugrul-shah had lusted after this country. Due to this reason, he killed Balaban, but the people did not let him to enter into Ahlat and the Ruler Evhad Necmeddin invited Eyyub. Therefore, the purpose of Eyyubi State had been accomplished and the Ermenshah State had been abolished.