Seljuk dynasty

The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids (/ˈsɛldʒʊk/ SEL-juuk; Old Anatolian Turkish:سلجك Sälcük; Azerbaijani:Səlcuqlular or Səlcuqilər; Turkmen:Seljuklar; Ottoman Turkish:سلچوق Selçuk; Turkish:Selçuklular; Persian:سلجوقیان Saljuqian,) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that culturally became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.

The founder of the Seljuk dynasty, Seljuk Beg, was a descendant of a royal Khazar chief Tuqaq who served as advisor to the King of the Khazars, in West Asia and Central Asia. The Seljuks established the Seljuk Empire (1037–1194), the Sultanate of Kermân (1041–1186) and the Sultanate of Rum (1074–1308), which stretched from Iran to Anatolia and were the prime targets of the First Crusade.

Early history

The Seljuks originated from the Kinik branch of the Oghuz Turks, who in the 8th century lived on the periphery of the Muslim world; north of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea in their Oghuz Yabgu State in the Kazakh Steppe of Turkestan. During the 10th century, Oghuz had come into close contact with Muslim cities. When Seljuk, the leader of the Seljuk clan, had a falling out with Yabghu, the supreme chieftain of the Oghuz, he split his clan from the bulk of the Oghuz Turks and set up camp on the west bank of the lower Syr Darya. Around 985, Seljuk converted to Islam.

In the 11th century, the Seljuks migrated from their ancestral homelands into mainland Persia, in the province of Khurasan, where they encountered the Ghaznavids. The Seljuks defeated the Ghaznavids at the Battle of Nasa in 1035. Seljuk's grandsons, Tughril and Chaghri, received the insignias of governor, grants of land, and were given the title of dehqan. At the Battle of Dandanaqan, they defeated a Ghaznavid army, and after a successful siege of Isfahan by Tughril in 1050/51, established the Great Seljuk Empire. The Seljuks mixed with the local population and adopted the Persian culture and Persian language in the following decades.

Later period

After arriving in Persia, the Seljuks adopted the Persian culture and used the Persian language as the official language of the government, and played an important role in the development of the Turko-Persian tradition which features "Persian culture patronized by Turkic rulers". Today, they are remembered as great patrons of Persian culture, art, literature, and language.

Seljuk rulers

Rulers of the Seljuk Dynasty

The "Great Seljuks" were heads of the family; in theory their authority extended over all the other Seljuk lines, although in practice this often was not the case. Turkic custom called for the senior member of the family to be the Great Seljuk, although usually the position was associated with the ruler of western Persia.

• Muhammad's son Mahmud II succeeded him in western Persia, but Ahmad Sanjar, who was the governor of Khurasan at the time being the senior member of the family, became the Great Seljuk Sultan.

Seljuk sultans of Hamadan

The rulers of western Persia, who maintained a very loose grip on the Abbasids of Baghdad. Several Turkic emirs gained a strong level of influence in the region, such as the Eldiguzids.

• Mahmud II 1118–1131
• 1131–1133 disputed between: Dawud 1131–1132 Mas'ud (in Jibal and Iranian Azerbaijan) 1132 Toghrul II, 1132–1133
• Mas'ud 1133–1152
• Malik Shah III 1152–1153
• Muhammad II 1153–1159
• Suleiman-Shah 1159–1161
• Arslan-Shah 1161–1177
• Toghrul III 1177–1194

In 1194, Toghrul III was killed in battle with the Khwarezm Shah, who annexed Hamadan.

Seljuk rulers of Kerman

Kerman was a province in southern Persia. Between 1053 and 1154, the territory also included Umman.

• Qavurt 1041–1073 (great-grandson of Seljuq, brother of Alp Arslan)
• Kerman Shah 1073–1074
• Sultan Shah 1074–1075 or 1074–1085
• Hussain Omar 1075–1084

or 1074 (before Sultan Shah)

• Turan Shah I 1084–1096 or 1085–1097
• Iranshah ibn Turanshah 1096–1101 or 1097–1101
• Arslan Shah I 1101–1142
• Muhammad I 1142–1156
• Tuğrul Shah 1156–1169 or 1156–1170
• Bahram-Shah 1169–1174 or 1170–1175
• Arslan Shah II 1174–1176 or 1175–1176
• Turan Shah II 1176–1183
• Muhammad II Shah 1183–1187 or 1183–1186

Muhammad abandoned Kerman, which fell into the hands of the Oghuz chief Malik Dinar. Kerman was eventually annexed by the Khwarazmian Empire in 1196.

Seljuk rulers in Syria

Sultans/Emirs of Aleppo: After the Battle of Ain Salm in 1086, Tutush I besieged and captured Aleppo from its chief Hassan ibn Hibat Allah al-Hutayti, declaring himself the Emir of Aleppo.

• Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I 1085–1086

However, with the intervention of Malik Shah I, Aq Sunqur al-Hajib, a Non-Seljuqid, was installed as the governor of Aleppo. Aq Sunqur al-Hajib continuously switched alliegances, after finally being beheaded by Tutush I in 1094.

• Jalal ad-Dawlah Malik Shah I 1086–1086 (During occupation of Aleppo, abandoned by Tutush I)
• Jalal ad-Dawlah Malik Shah I 1086–1092 (As overlord of Aq Sunqur al-Hajib)
• Nasir al-Din Mahmud I 1092-1093 (As overlord of Aq Sunqur al-Hajib)
• Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I (second time) 1093-1093 (As overlord of Aq Sunqur al-Hajib)
• Rukn al-Din Berkyaruq 1093-1094 (As overlord of Aq Sunqur al-Hajib)
• Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I (third time) 1094–1095
• Fakhr al-Mulk Ridwan 1095–1113
• Tadj ad-Dawla Alp Arslan al-Akhras 1113–1114 (Under the regency of Lu'lu' al-Yaya)
• Sultan Shah ibn Radwan 1114–1117 (Under the regency of Lu'lu' al-Yaya)
• Sultan Shah ibn Radwan 1117-1118 (independent)

Sultan Shah ibn Radwan hands over Aleppo to the Artuqids, but still acted as a claimant. He also participated in the Siege of Aleppo (1124–1125).

• Sultan Shah ibn Radwan 1118-1125 (claimant)

Sultans/Emirs of Damascus:

• Aziz ibn Abaaq al-Khwarazmi 1076–1079
• Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I 1079–1095
• Abu Nasr Shams al-Muluk Duqaq 1095–1104
• Tutush II 1104
• Muhi ad-Din Baktāsh (Ertaş) 1104

Damascus seized by the Burid Toghtekin

Seljuk sultans of Rum (Anatolia)

• Kutalmish 1060–1077 (Ancestor. Not Sultan)
• Emir Mansur (Declared his rule in Anatolia. Not Sultan)
• Suleyman I (Suleiman) 1077–1086 Two regents namely Abu'l-Qasim and Abu'l-Hasan Ghazi ruled between 1086 and 1092. They were Non-Seljuqids.
• Dawud Kilij Arslan 1092–1107
• Malik Shah 1107–1116
• Rukn ad-Din Mesud I 1116–1156
• Melik Arab (claimant)
• Melik Toğrul Arslan (regional claimant)
• Izz ad-Din Kilij Arslan II 1156–1192
• Malik Shah II (claimant)
• Sons of Kilij Arslan II (regional claimants)
• Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw I 1192–1196
• Suleyman II (Suleiman) 1196–1204 Suleiman established his brother Tughril Shah as the de facto ruler of Erzurum. Tughril's son Jahan Shah also ruled in Erzurum. Their rule ended with the intervention of Kayqubad I.
• Kilij Arslan III 1204–1205
• Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw I (second time) 1205–1211
• Izz ad-Din Kaykaus I 1211–1220
• Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I 1220–1237
• Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw II 1237–1246
• Izz ad-Din Kaykaus II 1246–1260
• Rukn ad-Din Kilij Arslan IV 1248–1265
• Ala ad-Din Kayqubad II 1249–1257
• Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw III 1265–1282
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mesud II 1282–1284
• Ala ad-Din Kayqubad III 1284
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mesud II (second time) 1284–1293
• Ala ad-Din Kayqubad III (second time) 1293–1294
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mesud II (third time) 1294–1301
• Ala ad-Din Kayqubad III (third time) 1301–1303
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mesud II (fourth time) 1303–1307
• Ghiyath ad-Din Mesud III 1307-1308 (possibly claimant)
• Kilij Arslan V (claimant, declared rule in Konya) Seljuks of Rum effectively ended with the Karamanid conquests of Konya. Tâceddin Altunbaş, a son of Mesud II, established the Kubadoğulları Emirate in Samsun around 1318. His sons would continue to rule the emirate until 1422, before submitting to the Ottomans.

Kubadoğulları Emirs

• Tâcüddîn Altunbaş
• Keykubad Bey
• Kubadoğlu Ali Bey
• Kubadoğlu Cüneyd Bey
• Kubadoğlu Hüseyin Bey

Titles

Members of the Seljuk Dynasty often used titles to signify claim and authority. They were also awarded some titles by their subjects and the ulema due to their efforts for public and religious welfare. Here is a list of titles used by/awarded to them. Common titles like Şehzade are not listed.

• Abu Talib Muhammad Tughril ibn Mika'il Head of the Seljuk dynasty Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Bey Malik al-Mashriq wa'l-Maghrib Al-sultan Al-mu'azzam Shahanshah Laqab: Rukn al-Dunya wa al-Din Rukn al-Dawla Suleiman ibn Chaghri Beg Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shah Muhammad Alp Arslan bin Dawud Chaghri Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire King of Kings Exalted Sultan King of Islam Father of Conquests Laqab: Diya al-Din Adud al-Dawlah Hasan Malik-Shah Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Amir al-Mu'minin Father of Conquests Sultan of the East and the West Laqab: Muizz al-Din Jalāl al-Dawlah Mahmud I Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Nasir al-Duniya wa al-Din Abuʿl-Moẓaffar Berkyaruq ibn Malik-Šāh Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shahanshah Laqab: Rukn al-Duniya wa al-Dīn Malik Shah II Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Mu'izz ad-Din Rukn al-Dunya wa al-Din Jalal al-Dawlah Muhammad I Tapar Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shahanshah Mujahid Laqab: Ghiyath al-Duniya wa al-Din

• Seljuks of Khorasan and Transoxiana Abul-Harith Ahmad Sanjar ibn Malik-Shah Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Great Sultan Sultan of Sultans The Majesty of the Khosrows and the Glory of the Kayanids King of Right Opinion, Sound Belief, and Truthful Promise Laqab: Muizz ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Adud ad-Dawlah Seljuks of Iraq and Hamadan Mahmud II bin Muhammad Tapar Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Mughith al-Dunya wa'l-Din Jalal ad-Dawlah Dawud bin Mahmud Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Ghiyath ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Mughith al-Dunya wa'l-Din Abu'l-Fath Abu Talib Tughril II bin Muhammad Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Rukn al-Dunya wa'l-Din Mas'ud bin Muhammad Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Friend of the 'Alim and a Giver to the Religious Poor Laqab: Ghiyath al-Dunya wa'l-Din Abu'l-Fath Malik-Shah III bin Mahmud Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Laqab: Mughith al-Dunya wa'l-Din Muin al-Dunya wa'l-Din Muhammad II ibn Mahmud Co-Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shah Laqab: Rukn al-Dunya wa'l-Din Abu'l-Harith Suleiman-Shah bin Muhammad Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shah Laqab: Mu'izz al-Dunya wa'l-Din Ghiyath al-Dunya wa'l-Din Abu al-Muzaffar Arslan Shah Ibn Tughril II Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire Shah Laqab: Rukn al-Din Muizz al-Dunya wa'l-Din Tughril III ibn Arslan-Shah Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire King who Ruled with Justice and Good Policy Friend of the 'Alim and Protector of the Darvish Without Limit Laqab: Rukn al-Dunya wa'l-Din

End of Great Seljuk Imperial Authority.

• Kara Arslan Ahmad Qavurt Shah of Kerman Bey Melik Laqab: Imad al-Din/Emadeddin

Comparative genealogy

Gallery

• Shatranj chess set, glazed fritware, 12th-century Iran. New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Seljuk sarcophagus at the Eskişehir Eti Archaeology Museum

Family tree

See also

• Khatun Seljuk princess
• Seljuk Empire
• Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
• Seljuk (warlord)

Footnotes

Notes

Further reading

• Dietrich, Richard (2018). "The Names of Seljuk's Sons as Evidence for the Pre-Islamic Religion of the Seljuks". Turkish Historical Review. 9 (1): 54–70. doi:. hdl:.
• Grousset, Rene (1988). The Empire of the Steppes: a History of Central Asia. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. p.147. ISBN978-0-8135-0627-2.
• Previté-Orton, C. W. (1971). The Shorter Cambridge Medieval History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.