- THE ANATOLIAN SELJUK STATE (THE SELJUK SULTANATE OF RUM) (1077-1307) -

The Great Seljuk Empire (1038 - 1157 AD), is the first state founded by the Seljuk Dynasty. It controlled Khwarezm (Harezm), Khorasan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, the Arabian Peninsula and Eastern Anatolia during its peak. The Seljuk Turks were a branch of the Qiniq clan of the Oghuz Turks, under the leadership of Seljuk Bey, after whom the state was named. They began to move from Central Asia towards Eastern Anatolia in the mid 10th Century, adopting Islam as their religion in the process.  

The Seljuk Turks grew stronger and organized an institutionalized state structure during the rule of Arslan Bey who succeeded Seljuk Bey in 1009. However, the first ruler of the state is considered Tugrul Bey.

The Great Seljuk Empire, or State as it is often called, is believed to have started by a declaration of independence and the throning of Tugrul Bey with the title of “emperor” in 1038. The Seljuk army won a brilliant victory against the Ghaznavid Army in the battle of Dandanaqan in 1040. Tugrul Bey gained control over the whole of Iran following his conquests and the Great Seljuk territory bordered the Byzantine Empire in the West.

After the death of Tugrul Bey in 1063, Alp Arslan came to the throne as his successor. He continued expanding the Seljuk territories; he defeated the Byzantine emperor, Romanus Diogenes, in the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 and the emperor was captured during that battle. The major importance of the Battle of Manzikert in Turkish history is that it is considered to be the event that opened “a path to Anatolia”.  The Great Seljuk commanders then conquered new territories in Anatolia as a result of their ongoing raids...

[You can read the rest of the article about the history of The Great Seljuk Empire on the information Panels in Festival.]