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The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids[1][2] (/ˈsɛlʊk/ SEL-juuk; Persian: سلجوقیان Saljuqian,[3] alternatively spelled as Seljuqs or Saljuqs), Seljuqs, also known as Seljuk Turks,[4] Seljuk Turkomans[5] or the Saljuqids,[6] was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture[7][8] 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.

Quick Facts Country, Founded ...
Seljuk dynasty
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Double-headed eagle, used as a symbol by several Seljuk rulers including Kayqubad I
CountrySeljuk Empire
Sultanate of Rum
Founded10th century – Seljuk
Titles
TraditionsSunni Islam (Maturidi Hanafi)
DissolutionDamascus:
1104 – Baktāsh (Ertaş), dethroned by Toghtekin

Great Seljuk:
1194 – Toghrul III was killed in battle with Tekish

Rum:
1308 – Mesud II died
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Early history

The Seljuks originated from the Kinik branch of the Oghuz Turks,[9][10][11][12] 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[13] in the Kazakh Steppe of Turkestan.[14] During the 10th century, Oghuz had come into close contact with Muslim cities.[15] 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.[15]

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 Plains in 1035. Seljuk's grandsons, Tughril and Chaghri, received the insignias of governor, grants of land, and were given the title of dehqan.[16] At the Battle of Dandanaqan, they defeated a Ghaznavid army, and after a successful siege of Isfahan by Tughril in 1050/51,[17] established the Great Seljuk Empire. The Seljuks mixed with the local population and adopted the Persian culture and Persian language in the following decades.[18][19][20][21][22]

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Later period

After arriving in Persia, the Seljuks adopted the Persian culture and used the Persian language as the official language of the government,[23][24][25] and played an important role in the development of the Turko-Persian tradition which features "Persian culture patronized by Turkic rulers".[26] Today, they are remembered as great patrons of Persian culture, art, literature, and language.[18][19][20]

Seljuk rulers

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Head of Seljuk male royal figure, 12–13th century, from Iran. Carved and drilled stone with Iranian craftsmanship. Kept at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Toghrol Tower, a 12th-century monument south of Tehran commemorating Toğrül
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The Kharāghān twin towers, built in Iran in 1053 to house the remains of Seljuk princes

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.

More information Titular name(s), Personal name ...
Titular name(s) Personal name Reign
Bey
بیگ
Tughril I
طغرل
1037–1063
Bey
بیگ
Suleiman[27]
سلیمان شاہ
1063[28]
Sultan
سلطان
Alp Arslan (Arslan I)
الپ ارسلان
1063–1072
Sultan
سلطان
Jalāl al-Dawlah
جلال الدولہ
Malik Shah I
ملک شاہ یکم
1072–1092
Sultan
سلطان
Nasir al-Duniya wa al-Din
ناصر الدنیا والدین
Mahmud I
محمود یکم
1092–1094
Sultan
سلطان
Abul Muzaffar Rukn al-Duniya wa al-Din
أبو المظفر رکن الدنیا والدین
Barkiyaruq
برکیارق
1094–1105
Sultan
سلطان
Muizz al-Din
معز الدین
Malik Shah II
ملک شاہ دوم
1104–1105
Sultan
سلطان
Ghiyath al-Duniya wa al-Din
غیاث الدنیا والدین
Muhammad I Tapar
محمد تاپار
1105–1118
Sultan
سلطان
Muizz al-Din
معز الدین
*Ahmad Sanjar
احمد سنجر
1118–1153
Khwarazmian dynasty replaces the Seljuk dynasty. From 1157, the Oghuz took control of much of Khurasan, with the remainder in the hands of former Seljuk emirs.
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  • 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

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The Great Seljuk Empire in 1092, upon the death of Malik Shah I[29]

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.

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-grantson 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 Khwarezmid Empire in 1196.

Seljuk rulers in Syria

To the Artuqids

Sultans/Emirs of Damascus:

Damascus seized by the Burid Toghtekin

Seljuk sultans of Rum (Anatolia)

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The Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in 1190, before the Third Crusade

The Seljuk line, already having been deprived of any significant power, effectively ended in the early 14th century.

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See also

References

Further reading

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