Who were the Seljuks?

 Who were the Seljuks? How did they save the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad and open the doors of Anatolia to Muslims!

My dear friends who are interested in history, the Seljuk Turks were actually a branch of the Oghuz (Ghuz) tribes, whose original homeland was Central Asia (Trans-Nahr).

They belonged to the Qinq tribe, which was considered distinguished among the Ghuz tribes in terms of strength and military skill.

Their ancestor Amjad "Dukqaq bin Seljuk" was a well-known Turkish chieftain, who held an important military position in the army of a ruler named Beghu. Dukqaq's son Seljuk bin Seljuk was not only brave but also endowed with leadership skills. Fearing his growing power, the king's wife tried to have him killed, whereupon Seljuk migrated with his family and tribe and entered the Islamic land. He settled in Jand (near present-day Kazakhstan) and after thorough research, converted to Islam. This was the moment from which the Islamic history of the Seljuks began. 

The Beginning of the Seljuks: 

After Seljuk, his descendants grew, until his great-grandson Tughral Beg established his power in the Islamic world. In 429 AH / 1037 CE, he conquered Khorasan and founded the Seljuk Empire. At that time, the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad was weakened, and the Buyids were in the hands of Shiite chieftains who considered the Caliph to be a head in name only. The Caliphate of the Muslims, al-Qaim Bamir Allah, sought help from the Seljuk Sultan Tughral Beg. Tughral Beg conquered Baghdad in 447 AH / 1055 CE, ended the Buyids' rule, restored the Caliph's dignity and freedom, and gained the right to have his name read in the Friday sermon. Thus, the Seljuk Empire became the protector of the Abbasid Caliphate.

How far did the Seljuk Empire extend?

 The Seljuk Empire became the most important Islamic power of the Middle Ages in terms of its size and power. Its borders extended to Khorasan and Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Anatolia (Turkey). Thus, the Seljuks stood as an Islamic shield against the Byzantine (Roman) power.

The Seljuk's historic victory over Malazkurd (1071)

The Seljuk army was organized, trained, and professional. Sultan Alp Arslan inflicted a crushing defeat on the Byzantine Empire in the famous Battle of Malazkurd on August 26, 1071. This was the battle that opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks.

And that Anatolia later became the foundation of the Ottoman Empire.

In addition to their military exploits, the Seljuks were also pioneers of scientific and religious development.

Vazir Nizam al-Mulk Tusi established the Nizamiya Madrasah, the greatest institution in Islamic history, which produced prominent scholars such as Imam Ghazali and Fakhr al-Din Razi.

 Thus, the Seljuks were not just soldiers, but also worldly rulers.

During this period, Shia and esoteric influences were growing in Iran and Iraq.

The Seljuks promoted the beliefs of the Sunnis and restored the centrality of the Abbasid Caliphate.

👑 Famous Seljuk Sultans:

Sultan Tughral Beg, he ended the Buyid dynasty and restored the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad.

Sultan Alp Arslan, he defeated the Romans in the Battle of Malazgirt and opened the doors of Anatolia to the Turks.

The reign of Sultan Malik Shah was a period of rise and stability for the Seljuks. After Malik Shah, chaos arose, and the empire was divided into several parts: Seljuk Rome (Turkey), Seljuk Syria, Seljuk Iraq and Iran.

Finally, their power ended in the 13th century as a result of Mongol invasions.

 Legacy of the Seljuks: Although the Seljuk Empire declined, it paved the way for the Ottoman Empire. Maintained Turkish power in Anatolia. Developed academic centers, madrasas, mujahideen, and scholars. Gave Islam a strong foothold in the Middle East and Turkey.