Seljuk dynasty
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids[1][2] (/ˈsɛldʒʊk/ 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.
"Seljuk Turks" redirects here. For the territory over which they ruled, see Seljuk Empire.Seljuk dynasty
10th century – Seljuk
Damascus:
1104 – Baktāsh (Ertaş), dethroned by Toghtekin
Great Seljuk:
1194 – Toghrul III was killed in battle with Tekish
1308 – Mesud II died
Early history[edit]
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]
Later period[edit]
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]
