Terken Khatun was the powerful wife of Malik Shah I. After the Sultan's death, she attempted to place her young son Mahmud I on the throne and engaged in a fierce power struggle with the late vizier's faction and Malik Shah's eldest son, Berkyaruq.
1702
Which city was the capital of the Sultanate of Rum for most of its existence?
After losing Nicaea to the First Crusade, the Seljuks of Rum moved their capital to Konya (ancient Iconium). Under their rule, Konya became a major center of Islamic art, architecture, and Persian culture in Anatolia.
1703
The Seljuk period saw the rise of 'Sufism.' Who was the famous Sufi poet who lived during the Sultanate of Rum's later years?
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, the world-renowned mystic and poet, spent most of his life in Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. The Seljuk environment provided the cultural and intellectual backdrop for his spiritual growth and the eventual founding of the Mevlevi Order.
1704
Which tribe did the Seljuks struggle against during the late reign of Sultan Sanjar?
In his final years, Sultan Sanjar faced a major rebellion from the Oghuz tribes in Khorasan. These tribes, who were technically the same ethnic group as the Seljuk ruling elite, felt neglected by the centralized administration. They defeated Sanjar in 1153 and even took him prisoner for several years.
1705
The 'Caravanserai' system reached a high point of development under the Seljuks. What was its primary purpose?
Caravanserais were monumental stone inns built along major trade routes, especially in Anatolia. They provided security, food, and shelter for traveling merchants and their animals, significantly boosting trade and the economy of the Seljuk domains.
1706
Which of these cities was NOT a major center of the Great Seljuk Empire?
Cairo was the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate, the primary rivals of the Seljuks. The Seljuks controlled much of Iran, Iraq, and Syria, but they never successfully conquered Egypt or ended the Fatimid dynasty.
1707
Which Seljuk Sultan is famously credited with treating the captured Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV with kindness and dignity?
Following the Battle of Manzikert, Alp Arslan famously treated Emperor Romanos IV as a guest rather than a prisoner. Legend says he asked the Emperor what he would do if he were the victor; when Romanos replied he would kill the Sultan, Alp Arslan replied he would forgive him and sent him back to Constantinople with an escort.
1708
What was the name of the elite corps of slave soldiers used by the Seljuks, similar to the later Janissaries?
The Seljuks utilized the 'Ghilman' (or Mamluk) system, where non-Muslim youths were captured or purchased, converted to Islam, and trained as professional soldiers. These elite guards were loyal directly to the Sultan and provided a professional core for the army, separate from the tribal levies.
1709
The Great Seljuk Empire began to decline rapidly after the assassination of which two figures in 1092?
The year 1092 is often cited as the beginning of the end for the Great Seljuks. Nizam al-Mulk, the administrative pillar of the state, was killed by an Assassin in October. Only a month later, Sultan Malik Shah I died under suspicious circumstances. Their deaths left a power vacuum that led to decades of internal strife.
1710
Which Seljuk Sultanate was established in the region of modern-day Kerman, Iran?
Qawurd Beg, a brother of Alp Arslan, founded the Seljuk dynasty of Kerman in southeastern Iran. It operated as a semi-independent branch of the Great Seljuk Empire and lasted until the late 12th century, when it was eventually absorbed by Oghuz tribes.
