The Bavand kingdom was during this period a vassal of the Seljuk Empire, which had a decade earlier under sultan Malik-Shah I (r. 1072–1092) controlled a vast area stretching from the Hindu Kush to eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf.

After Shahriyar IV's death in 1114, his son Qarin III succeeded him, and started arresting and imprisoning many loyal servants of his father, thus heavily weakening the kingdom.

In accordance with the ancient Iranian style, the coronation lasted seven days, and included the typical banquets, exhilarations, giving of gifts, whilst the renowned statesmen, local rulers, and members of the royal house gathered from all the landscapes.

On the eighth day, after the felicitations were complete, Shah Ghazi ascended the throne, fastened the royal waistband, and confirmed the governors in their offices.

[2] His antagonistic brother Taj al-Muluk Mardavij had been serving Sanjar at Marv, and as a result had become greatly appreciated by him, even receiving his sister (or daughter) in marriage.

Mardavij proceeded to capture Gorgan, Tammisha and the fort of Johayna, and not long after besieged Qal'a-ye Dara, where Shah Ghazi had fortified himself.

[1] He was buried in the same site as his father by the prominent figures of Mazandaran, including the ispahbad Majd al-Din Dara, Sabiq al-Dawla Qazvini, Sayyid Hasim Alawi, and Amir Surkhab.