# Seljuk dynasty

The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids (/ˈsɛldʒʊk/ SEL-juuk; Persian: سلجوقیان Saljuqian, alternatively spelled as Seljuqs or Saljuqs), Seljuqs, also known as Seljuk Turks, Seljuk Turkomans or the Saljuqids, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture 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.
| Titular name(s) | Personal name | Reign |
| Bey بیگ | Tughril I طغرل | 1037–1063 |
| Bey بیگ | Suleiman سلیمان شاہ | 1063 |
| 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. |||
* 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 Khwarezmid Empire in 1196.

### Seljuk rulers in Syria

* Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I 1085–1086
* Jalal ad-Dawlah Malik Shah I of Great Seljuk 1086–1087
* Qasim ad-Dawla Abu Said Aq Sunqur al-Hajib 1087–1094
* Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I (second time) 1094–1095
* Fakhr al-Mulk Ridwan 1095–1113
* Tadj ad-Dawla Alp Arslan al-Akhras 1113–1114
* Sultan Shah 1114–1123
To the Artuqids
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)

The Seljuk line, already having been deprived of any significant power, effectively ended in the early 14th century.
History of the Turkic peoples pre–14th century :
Court of Seljuk ruler Tughril III, circa 1200 CE. :
Turkic peoples Onogurs Oghuz Turks Saragurs Utigurs Bulgars Sabir Kutrigurs Karluks Kimek Kipchaks Cherniye Klobuki Uyghurs Tatars Kumyks Yakuts Dolgans Krymchaks Crimean Karaites :
Turkic Languages Turkish Azerbaijani Uzbek Kazakh Uyghur Turkmen Tatar Kyrgyz Bashkir Chuvash Qasgqai Karakalpak Sakha Kumyk Karachay-Balkar Tuvan Gagauz Karaim Krymchak :
Turkic Mythology Belief system: Tengrism and Shamanism Chief gods and goddesses: Kayra and Ülgen Epics and heroes: Ergenekon and Asena Major concepts: Sheka and Grey wolf :
Pre-14th century
Yenisei Kyrgyz People 202 BCE–13th CE
Yenisei Kyrgyz Khaganate
Dingling 71 BC–?? AD
Tiele (Gaoche)
Göktürks
First Turkic Khaganate 552–581
Western Turkic Khaganate 581–657
(Tokhara Yabghus, Turk Shahis)
Eastern Turkic Khaganate 581–650
Second Turkic Khaganate 682–744
Sabiri People
Khazar Khaganate 618–1048
Xueyantuo 628–646
Kangar Union 659–750
Turk Shahi 665-850
Türgesh Khaganate 699–766
Kimek–Kipchak Confederation 743–1035
Uyghur Khaganate 744–840
Oghuz Yabgu State 750–1055
Karluk Yabgu State 756–940
Kara-Khanid Khanate 840–1212
Western Kara-Khanid
Eastern Kara-Khanid
Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom 848–1036
Qocho 856–1335
Pecheneg Khanates 860–1091
Ghaznavid Empire 963–1186
Seljuk Empire 1037–1194
Sultanate of Rum
Cuman–Kipchak Confederation 1067–1239
Khwarazmian Empire 1077–1231
Kerait Khanate 11th century–13th century
Atabegs of Azerbaijan 1136–1225
Delhi Sultanate 1206–1526
Mamluk dynasty
Khalji dynasty
Tughlaq dynasty
Qarlughid Kingdom 1224–1266
Golden Horde 1242–1502
Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) 1250–1517
Bahri dynasty
Ottoman State 1299–1922 :
vte :
* Kutalmish 1060–1077
* Suleyman I (Suleiman) 1077–1086
* Dawud Kilij Arslan I 1092–1107
* Malik Shah 1107–1116
* Rukn ad-Din Mesud I 1116–1156
* Izz ad-Din Kilij Arslan II 1156–1192
* Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw I 1192–1196
* Suleyman II (Suleiman) 1196–1204
* 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

## 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

vteGreat Seljuk sultans family tree :
Tuqaq Temur Yalig Beg (b. ? – d. ?) Commander-in-chief of The Oghuz army
Seljuk Beg (b. ? – d. ?) The founder of Seljuk dynasty
Qawam al-Dawla (r. 1012–1028) Buyid Governor in KermanArslan Yabgu (b. ? – d. 1032) Chief of Seljuk dynastyMikail ibn Seljuk (b. ? -d. ?)The mother of Toghrul, Chaghri, Ibrahim and ArtashYûsuf InalYûnusMûsâ Yabgu (İnanç Yabgu) Governor of Tokharistan
Abu Kalijar (r. 1028–1048) Buyid Amir in KirmanKurlu Bey (r. 1069–1071) Leader of the Seljuk vassal state in PalestineQutalmish Father of the founder of Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate1.Toghrul I (r. 1037–1063) First sultan of The Great Seljuk EmpireChaghri Beg (r. 1040–1060) Governor of KhorasanIbrahim InalArtash Inal (Artāsh)Abu Ali Hasan YabguYûsuf, Kara Arslan, Abu Bakr, Umar, Bori and Dawlatshah
1.Qawurd-Beg Seljuk Shah of Kirman (r. 1048–1073) Kerman Seljuk SultanateAtsiz ibn Uvaq (r. 1076–1079) Amir of DimashqAksungur (r. 1086–1094) Sultan of Aleppo2.Suleiman (r. 1063) Sultan of Great Seljuk3.Alp Arslan (r. 1063–1072) Sultan of Great SeljukAlp Sungur Yâkūtî Prince Governor of AzerbaijanArslan Argun and Ilyas Other princesKhadija Arslan Princess married Abbasid caliph Al-Qa'im.Safiyya Khatun Princess
2.Kerman Shah (r. 1073–1074) 3.Hussain Omar Shah (r. 1074)Tutush (r. 1079–1095) Sultan of Dimashq and (r. 1094–1095) of AleppoTurkan Khatun The daughter of Tamghach Khan Ibrahim of Kara-Khanid dynasty and de facto ruler of Mahmud I4.Malik-Shah I (r. 1072–1092) Sultan of Great SeljukArslan-Shah (r. 1066–1083) Governor of KhorasanDoğan-Shah (r. 1083–1092) Governor of KhorasanArslan-Argun (r. 1092–1097) Governor of KhorasanTuğrul and Böri-Bars Other princesAisha Princess married Kara-Khanid khan Nasr Shams al-Mulk.
4.Sultan Shah (r. 1074–1085) 5.Turan I Shah (r. 1085–1097)Dawud and Ahmad Other princes5.Mahmud I (r. 1092–1094) Sultan of Great Seljuk6.Bark-Yaruq (r. 1092–1104) Sultan of Great Seljuk8.Muhammad I Tapar (r. 1105–1118) Sultan of Great Seljuk9.Ahmad Sanjar (r. 1118–1153) Last sultan of The Great SeljukTuğrul and Amîr Humâr Other princesGawhar Khatun Princess married Ghaznavid sultan Mas'ud III.Sayyeda Princess married Abbasid caliph Al-Mustazhir
6.Iranshah (r. 1097–1101) 7.Arslan I Shah (r. 1101–1142)Duqaq (r. 1095–1104) Amir of DimashqMah-i Malak Princess married Abbasid caliph Al-Muqtadi7.Malik-Shah II (r. 1104-1105) Sultan of Great Seljuk1.Mahmud II (r. 1118–1131) First sultan of The Iraqi Seljuks3.Toghrul II (r. 1132–1134) Sultan of Iraqi SeljuksMu'mine Khatun wife of Toghrul II until 1134 wife of İldeniz from 1136Ildeniz (r. 1160–1175) de facto ruler Atabeg of Arslan-Shah4.Masud (r. 1134–1152) Sultan of Iraqi Seljuks
8.Malīk Muhammad I Shah (r. 1142–1156) 9.Toghrul Shah (r. 1156–1170)Tutush II & Artash (Baktāsh) (r. 1104) Amir of Dimashq2.Dawud (r. 1131–1132) Sultan of Iraqi Seljuks5.Malik-Shah III (r. 1152–1153) Sultan of Iraqi Seljuks6.Muhammad II (r. 1153–1159) Sultan of Iraqi Seljuks7.Suleiman-Shah (r. 1159–1160) Sultan of Iraqi Seljuks8.Arslan-Shah (r. 1160–1177) Sultan of Iraqi SeljuksNusrat al-Din Muhammad (r. 1175–1186) de facto ruler of Toghrul III Atabeg of Arslan-ShahQizil Arslan (r. 1186-1191) de facto ruler of Toghrul III Atabeg of the Eldiguzids
10.Bahrām, 11.Arslan II Shah(r. 1170 - 1171) 12.Bahrām Shah (r. 1171 - 1172)13.Bahrām & Arslan II Shah(r. 1172–1175) 14.Bahrām Shah (r. 1175)15.Muhammad II Shah (r. 1175) 16.Arslan II Shah (r. 1175 - 1177)17.Turan II Shah (r. 1177–1183) 18.Muhammad II Shah (r. 1183–1187)Fakhr al-Mulk Radwan (r. 1095–1113) Malik of AleppoAlp Arslan (r. 1113–1114) Sultan Shah (r. 1114–1117)9.Toghrul III (r. 1177–1191, 1192–1194) Last sultan of The Iraqi SeljuksNusrat al-Din Abu Bakr (r. 1191–1210) de facto ruler Atabeg of the EldiguzidsMuzaffar al-Din Uzbek (r. 1210–1225) Atabeg of the Eldiguzids :
Notes: :