Taj al-Mulk was a rival official in the court of Malik Shah I. He was backed by Terken Khatun and sought to undermine Nizam al-Mulk's influence. He succeeded Nizam al-Mulk as vizier after the latter's assassination but was himself killed by the 'Nizamiyyah' faction shortly after.
1672
What was the primary impact of the Seljuk period on the ethnic composition of Anatolia?
Following the victory at Manzikert, waves of Oghuz Turkic tribes migrated into Anatolia. This began a slow but steady process of Turkification and Islamization that eventually transformed the region from a Greek-speaking Christian heartland into a Turkish-speaking Muslim one.
1673
The 'Double-Headed Eagle' symbol is often associated with which branch of the Seljuks?
The double-headed eagle was a common heraldic symbol in the Sultanate of Rum. It appeared on their coins, flags, and architectural decorations. It symbolized the Sultan's dominion over both the East and the West, and was later adopted by many other cultures, including the Byzantines and Russians.
1674
What was the 'Shahnama' and how did the Seljuks view it?
The 'Shahnama' (Book of Kings) is the national epic of Greater Iran, written by Ferdowsi. Although the Seljuks were Turks, they embraced the Shahnama as a model of kingship and culture. Many Seljuk Sultans, especially those in Anatolia, even took names from the epic, such as Kaykhusraw and Kayqubad.
1675
Which Seljuk Sultan died while campaigning in Central Asia against the Khwarazmians in 1072?
Alp Arslan died in 1072, just one year after his great victory at Manzikert. He was fatally stabbed by a captive fortress commander, Yusuf al-Khwarazmi, during an expedition across the Oxus River. He was succeeded by his son, Malik Shah I.
1676
Which scholar's work, 'The Alchemy of Happiness,' was written during the Seljuk era?
Al-Ghazali wrote 'Kimiya-ye Sa'adat' (The Alchemy of Happiness) in Persian towards the end of his life. It is a summarized version of his monumental Arabic work, 'Ihya Ulum al-Din,' and was intended to make his teachings on spirituality accessible to a wider Persian-speaking audience.
Derived from the Turkic words 'Ata' (father) and 'Beg' (lord), the title Atabeg signified the guardian and mentor of a prince. The Atabeg was responsible for the prince's education and military training, often marrying the prince's mother to strengthen his position.
1678
Which major city was lost by the Byzantines to the Seljuks immediately after Manzikert?
Nicaea (modern Iznik) was captured by the Seljuks shortly after Manzikert and served as the first capital of the Sultanate of Rum. It was located very close to Constantinople, posing a direct threat to the Byzantine heartland until it was recovered during the First Crusade.
1679
Who was the ruler of the Sultanate of Rum who reached the peak of its power in the early 13th century?
Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I (r. 1220–1237) presided over the golden age of the Seljuks of Rum. He was a great builder, a military conqueror, and a patron of the arts. Many of the finest Seljuk caravanserais and mosques in Anatolia date from his reign.
1680
Which of these groups did the Seljuks displace to take control of Baghdad?
The Buyids were a Daylamite Shia dynasty that had controlled the Abbasid Caliphs in Baghdad since 945 CE. Tughril Beg's conquest of Baghdad in 1055 permanently ended Buyid rule and restored Sunni dominance in the heart of the Islamic world.
