On 04 September in 1063 AD/CE, the founder and first Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire, Sultan Tughril Beg died in the city of Rey. Sultan Tughril was the grandson of Seljuk, after whom Tughril and his brother Chagri Beg founded the Seljuk dynasty, which later became the Great Seljuk Empire.
See Also: Great Seljuk Empire Sultans Family Tree
Early Life and Background
Sultan Tughril Beg, the founder of the Great Seljuk Empire, was born into the Seljuk dynasty, named after his grandfather, Seljuk. He was the son of Mikail Beg ibn Seljuk; on the death of his father, Tughril and his brother Chaghri were raised by their grandfather Seljuk, who had other sons named Musa Yabghu and Arslan Isra’il, whom Tughril would later accompany into the Iranian plateau.
Their grandfather, Seljuk, was a military commander of the Oghuz state near the Aral Sea in the 10th century. Over time, Seljuk and his people migrated to the Syr Darya River and converted to Islam.
The Rise of the Seljuks
After the death of Seljuk, his eldest son, Arslan Yabghu (d.1032), became the head of the family. However, Arslan was taken captive by the Ghaznavids, and died in captivity. Therefore, the only surviving son of Seljuk, Musa Yabghu, officially became the head of the family but in reality, the power was held by his nephews Chagrı and Tughril.
Expanding Influence in Khorasan
In 1037, the Seljuks forced the Ghaznavids to cede them Sarakhs, Abivard and Merv. The Seljuks then slowly began to subdue the cities of Khorasan, and, when they captured Nishapur, Tughril proclaimed himself Sultan of Khorasan. Mas’ud, after having returned to Khorasan, expelled the Seljuks from Herat and Nishapur. He soon marched towards Merv to completely remove the Seljuk threat from Khorasan.
The Battle of Dandanaqan shortly took place near Merv, where the army of Mas’ud was defeated by a much smaller army under Tughril, his brother Chaghri Beg, and the Kakuyid prince Faramurz. Mas’ud thus permanently lost control of all of western Khorasan. This victory marked the foundation of the Seljuk Empire, which was now rapidly expanding west.
Tughril Beg’s Rule and Conquests
Establishing the Seljuk Empire
Following his victory, Tughril installed his brother Chagri Beg as the governor of Khorasan. He then shifted his focus toward securing his rule over Iran. Over the next few years, he conquered Tabaristan, Gurgan, Ray, and Qazvin.
Capturing Baghdad and Protecting the Abbasids
One of Tughril Beg’s most significant achievements was his conquest of Baghdad in 1055. At the time, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Qa’im, was under the influence of the Shia Buyid dynasty. Tughril overthrew the Buyids and placed the Caliph under his protection, re-establishing Sunni control over the Islamic Caliphate.
See Also: Abbasid Dynasty Family Tree
Death and Succession
Sultan Tughril ruled the Seljuk Empire until his death on September 4, 1063, in the city of Rey (modern-day Iran). He died childless, leaving behind a contested succession.
The Power Struggle
The succession of his nephew Suleiman was contested by Alp Arslan, both of them sons of his brother Chaghri. His cousin Qutalmish, who had been both a vital part of his campaigns and later a supporter of Inal’s rebellion, also put forth a claim. Alp Arslan defeated Qutalmish and assumed the throne on April 27, 1064.
See Also: Sultan Alp Arslan, A Short Biography
Legacy of Sultan Tughril Beg
Tughril Beg laid the foundation for what would become one of the most powerful empires in Islamic history. His military campaigns, governance, and vision helped shape the Great Seljuk Empire, which continued to expand under his successors.
