The Tughril Tower in Rayy is a massive brick tomb tower with a distinctive star-shaped (fluted) exterior. It is a masterpiece of Seljuk brickwork and serves as the mausoleum for Tughril Beg.
1652
The Seljuk Empire was often in conflict with which eastern power over the control of Transoxiana?
The Qara-Khanids were another Turkic dynasty that ruled Central Asia. The Seljuks frequently fought or allied with them to control the wealthy Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.
1653
Which Seljuk Sultan's name means 'The Sun of the Religion'?
Sultan Sanjar's full regnal title was Mu'izz al-Din (Exalter of the Religion). 'Shams al-Din' means Sun of the Religion, which was a common honorific but not the primary name of the major Sultans.
1654
What was the role of the 'Mustawfi' in the Seljuk administration?
The Mustawfi (or Mustawfi al-Mamalik) was the head of the financial department. He was responsible for collecting taxes, managing the treasury, and overseeing the empire's financial records.
The Sipahis were the provincial cavalry who held land grants (iqtas). They were expected to arm themselves and provide a certain number of soldiers to the Sultan's army when called upon.
1656
Which Seljuk ruler founded the city of Aksaray in Anatolia?
Kilij Arslan II built a palace and a city in central Anatolia called Aksaray (White Palace), which became a strategic base for his campaigns against the Byzantines and rival Turkish lords.
1657
The 'Assassins' were a splinter group of which major branch of Islam?
The Assassins (Nizari Ismailis) were a branch of Shia Islam. They broke away from the main Fatimid Ismaili line and established a 'state of castles' to fight against the Sunni Seljuk Empire.
1658
Who was the Byzantine Emperor defeated and captured by Alp Arslan?
Romanos IV Diogenes was the Byzantine Emperor who sought to end the Turkish raids into Anatolia but was instead defeated at Manzikert. His capture was a unprecedented event in medieval history.
1659
The Seljuks used 'Kufic' and which other script for their architectural inscriptions?
Seljuk inscriptions evolved from the geometric Kufic script to the more cursive and flowing Naskh and Thuluth scripts. They often used these scripts for Quranic verses and the Sultan's titles on buildings.
1660
Which city was the intellectual capital of the Seljuks, where Nizam al-Mulk was born?
Nizam al-Mulk was born in Tus, a city in Khorasan that was a major center of learning. Tus was also the birthplace of other giants of Islamic thought like Ferdowsi, Al-Ghazali, and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.
