Alp Arslan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alp Arslan |
|
|---|---|
|
|
.png)
Miniature from the Majma al-Tawarikh by Hafiz Abru; which depicts accession to the throne by Alp Arslan
|
|
| Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire | |
| Reign | 4 September 1063 – 15 December 1072 |
| Predecessor | Tughril |
| Successor | Malik-Shah I |
| Born | 20 January 1029 |
| Died | 24 November 1072 (aged 43) Barzam Fortress, near Amu Darya, Khwarezm |
| Spouse |
|
| Issue |
|
| House | House of Seljuk |
| Father | Chaghri Beg |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Alp Arslan was an important ruler of the Seljuk Empire. He was the second Sultan and a great-grandson of Seljuk, who started the Seljuk dynasty. Alp Arslan greatly expanded the Seljuk lands. He defeated many rivals and strengthened his power.
His most famous victory was against the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. This battle was a turning point. It allowed Turkic people to settle in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). Because of his bravery and fighting skills, he was called Alp Arslan. This name means "Heroic Lion" in Turkish.
Contents
Who was Alp Arslan?
His Family and Early Life
Alp Arslan was the son of Chaghri. His uncle was Tughril, who was the first Sultan of the Seljuk Empire. Alp Arslan had many children, including Malik-Shah I and Tutush I. He was married at least twice. One of his wives was the widow of his uncle Tughril. Another was a princess from the Kara-Khanid Khanate named Aka or Seferiye Khatun.
Alp Arslan also had rivals within his own family. His uncle Kutalmish and his younger brothers, Suleiman and Qavurt, all wanted to be sultan.
Starting His Career
When he was younger, Alp Arslan joined his uncle Tughril on military trips. They fought against the Fatimids in the south. Meanwhile, his father Chaghri stayed in Khorasan.
When Alp Arslan returned to Khorasan, he started working in government. His father introduced him to Nizam al-Mulk. Nizam al-Mulk later became Alp Arslan's most important advisor, known as his vizier.
Becoming Sultan
Taking the Throne
After his father died in 1059, Alp Arslan became the governor of Khorasan. His uncle Tughril died in 1063. Tughril had chosen Alp Arslan's infant brother, Suleiman, as his successor.
However, Alp Arslan and his uncle Kutalmish both challenged this choice. They fought for the throne at the Battle of Damghan in 1063. Alp Arslan won this battle. On April 27, 1064, he became the Sultan of the Seljuk Empire. This made him the sole ruler of Persia, from the Oxus river to the Tigris river.
Expanding the Empire
In 1064, Alp Arslan led a military campaign into Georgia. He captured areas between Tbilisi and the Çoruh river. The Georgian ruler, Bagrat IV, agreed to pay a tax to the Seljuks.
However, the Georgians broke this agreement in 1065. Alp Arslan invaded Georgia again in 1068. He took Tbilisi after a short fight and Bagrat IV submitted again. But the Georgians managed to free themselves from Seljuk rule around 1073–1074.
Alp Arslan was greatly helped by his vizier, Nizam al-Mulk. Together, they brought stability to the empire after Tughril's death. In 1066, Alp Arslan named his son Malik Shah I as his future heir.
He then led his Turkic cavalry to capture Caesarea Mazaca, the capital of Cappadocia. He crossed the Euphrates river and invaded the city. Alp Arslan and Nizam al-Mulk also marched into Armenia and Georgia. They conquered these regions in 1064. After a 25-day siege, the Seljuks captured Ani, which was the capital city of Armenia.
Conflicts with the Byzantine Empire
Early Battles
In 1068, Alp Arslan invaded the Byzantine Empire. He was on his way to fight the Fatimids in Syria. The Byzantine Emperor, Romanos IV Diogenes, personally led his army to meet the invaders.
The Byzantines fought three difficult campaigns. They managed to push the Turks back across the Euphrates by 1070. During this time, Alp Arslan gained the support of Rashid al-Dawla Mahmud, the ruler of Aleppo.
The Battle of Manzikert
In 1071, Emperor Romanos again led his army into Armenia. He had about 30,000 soldiers, including some from Europe. Alp Arslan quickly turned his troops around to face the Byzantines.
The two armies met at Manzikert, near Lake Van. Some of the Byzantine soldiers, who were Turkic mercenaries, immediately switched sides to join Alp Arslan. The Byzantines were completely defeated. Emperor Romanos himself was captured and brought before Alp Arslan.
Alp Arslan questioned Romanos about his actions. Romanos bravely answered that he had done what any king must do. Alp Arslan decided not to kill Romanos. He agreed to release him for a large payment. Alp Arslan sent Emperor Romanos back to Constantinople with a Turkish escort.
Alp Arslan likely spared Romanos to avoid a long war with the Byzantines. He also faced threats from the Fatimids. Releasing Romanos might help ease tensions.
After Romanos was overthrown by others in Constantinople, Alp Arslan learned that the promised payment would not be made. He then declared that he would continue to fight against Christian lands. Alp Arslan and his son Malik Shah encouraged Turkic tribes to move into and settle Anatolia. This helped expand the Seljuk Empire even further.
Alp Arslan's victories completely changed the power balance in the Near East. They greatly favored the Seljuq Turks and Sunni Muslims. The Byzantine Empire continued for centuries, but the victory at Manzikert marked the start of Turkic power in Anatolia. This battle became very famous among the Turks. Later, many noble families in Anatolia claimed their ancestors fought in that battle.
How Alp Arslan Organized His Empire
Alp Arslan was a strong military leader. His vizier, Nizam al-Mulk, managed the daily affairs of the empire. Nizam al-Mulk created an administrative system that made the sultanate strong. This system continued under Alp Arslan and his son, Malik Shah.
Military lands, called Iqtas, were given to Seljuk princes. These lands helped support the soldiers. They also helped nomadic Turks settle into the farming areas of Anatolia. This system allowed Alp Arslan to have a large army. He did not have to rely only on money from conquests to pay his soldiers. He had enough food from his people and taxes from traders to fund his many wars.
Alp Arslan appointed Suleiman ibn Qutalmish as governor of the northwestern regions. Suleiman was tasked with completing the invasion of Anatolia. Suleiman was the son of Kutalmish, who had fought Alp Arslan for the throne. It is believed that Alp Arslan felt sad about Kutalmish's death.
Alp Arslan's Death
After the Battle of Manzikert, Alp Arslan ruled over a large part of western Asia. He then planned to conquer Turkestan, where his ancestors came from. He marched with a powerful army to the Oxus river.
Before crossing the river, he needed to capture some fortresses. One fortress was strongly defended by a rebel named Yusuf al-Kharezmi. Alp Arslan promised Yusuf ownership of his lands if he surrendered. When Yusuf was brought before him, Alp Arslan ordered him to be shot. But Yusuf quickly grabbed a knife and attacked Alp Arslan, striking him three times before being killed.
Four days later, on November 24, 1072, Alp Arslan died from his wounds. He was buried at Merv. Before he died, he named his 18-year-old son, Malik Shah, as his successor.
Alp Arslan's Family Life
Alp Arslan had several wives. One wife was Safariyya Khatun. She had a daughter named Sifri Khatun. In 1071–72, Sifri Khatun married the Abbasid Caliph Al-Muqtadi. Safariyya died in Isfahan in 1073–74.
Another wife was Akka Khatun. She had been married to Sultan Tughril before Alp Arslan married her in 1063. Shah Khatun was another wife. She was the daughter of Qadir Khan Yusuf. She had been married to Ghaznavid Mas'ud before.
Alp Arslan also married a daughter of the Georgian king Bagrat in 1067–68. He divorced her soon after. His sons included Malik-Shah I, Tutush I, Tekish, and Arslan Arghun. He also had other daughters. One daughter, Zulaikha Khatun, married Muslim in 1086–87. Another daughter, Aisha Khatun, married Shams al-Mulk Nasr.
Alp Arslan's Lasting Impact
Alp Arslan's conquest of Anatolia from the Byzantines was a very important event. Many historians see it as a key step that led to the Crusades later on.
From 2002 to 2008, the month of August in the Turkmen calendar was named after Alp Arslan. A military division in Turkmenistan is also named in his honor.
Images for kids
-
Coin minted in the name of Alp Arslan with the title Shahanshah
-
A miniature depicting Alp Arslan, located in Topkapı Palace Museum (TSMK)
-
Byzantine territory (purple), Byzantine campaigns (red) and Seljuk campaigns (green)
-
Alp Arslan and Emperor Romanos IV after the Battle of Manzikert. From a 15th-century French translation of Boccaccio's De Casibus Virorum Illustrium
See Also
In Spanish: Alp Arslan para niños
