The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( 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 and his clan 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.
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)
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
The Seljuks exercised rule over parts of Syria for about thirty years, though their nominal suzerainty remained unstable.
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.
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.
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:
Damascus seized by the Burid Toghtekin
Seljuk sultans of Rum (Anatolia)
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.
Great Seljuk (Official/Non-official):
Great Seljuks under Dyarchy(Official/Non-official):
End of Great Seljuk Imperial Authority.
Kirman Seljuks(Official/Non-official):