At Dorylaeum, the First Crusaders defeated the army of Kilij Arslan I. This victory allowed the Crusaders to cross Anatolia and eventually reach Antioch and Jerusalem, while pushing the Seljuks back from the western coasts of Anatolia.
1662
Which Seljuk Sultan is known for commissioning the Great Mosque of Malatya?
Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I was a prolific builder. The Jameh Mosque of Malatya is an important example of the brick-building tradition moving into Anatolia under his patronage.
1663
Which Seljuk branch ruled Syria and faced the brunt of the early Crusader attacks?
The Seljuks of Syria were founded by Tutush I, a brother of Malik Shah I. After his death, his sons Ridwan (of Aleppo) and Duqaq (of Damascus) fought each other, and their rivalry prevented a unified Muslim response to the First Crusade.
As an Islamic state, the Seljuks followed the Sharia principle of Jizya, a per capita tax levied on non-Muslim subjects (Dhimmis) in exchange for state protection and exemption from military service.
1665
The 'Ince Minareli Medrese' is a famous landmark of which Seljuk city?
The Ince Minareli Medrese (Slender Minaret Madrasa) is a 13th-century structure in Konya. It is famous for its highly ornate stone entrance gate, which is considered one of the finest examples of Seljuk stone carving.
1666
Which Seljuk prince was the main rival of Berkyaruq for the throne after Malik Shah's death?
Muhammad Tapar and his brother Sanjar waged a long civil war against their eldest brother, Berkyaruq. The empire was eventually divided among them, with Berkyaruq ruling the west and Sanjar ruling the east, significantly weakening the central state.
Tughril and Chaghri were the sons of Mikail ibn Seljuk. After Mikail died young in battle, his sons were raised by their grandfather, Seljuk ibn Duqaq, who was the patriarch of the clan.
1668
Which Seljuk Sultan was captured and held in a cage by the Timurids (in a famous historical myth/clash)?
The 'capture and cage' story refers to the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I after the Battle of Ankara in 1402. By that time, the Seljuks had been gone for a century. The Seljuk Sultan Sanjar was captured by Oghuz rebels, but the cage myth specifically belongs to Ottoman-Timurid history.
1669
Which city was the site of the Great Seljuk capital 'Rayy' located near today?
Rayy was one of the most important cities of the Islamic world during the Seljuk period and served as one of their capitals. Its ruins are located just south of the modern Iranian capital, Tehran.
1670
The Seljuk military was primarily famous for which tactic?
The Seljuks, like most steppe peoples, relied on highly mobile light cavalry. Their primary tactic was the 'feigned retreat,' where they would pretend to flee to lure the enemy into an ambush, while their horse archers would fire volleys of arrows with deadly precision while riding at full speed.
