Saltukids facts for kids
The Saltukids were a powerful family who ruled a region in what is now eastern Turkey for over 100 years. They were one of the first Turkish groups to set up their own state in Anatolia after a big battle called the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Their main city was Erzurum. The Saltukids ruled from 1071 to 1202.
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The Saltukids: Rulers of Eastern Anatolia
How the Saltukids Began
The Saltukid state was started by a leader named Emir Saltuk. He was one of the brave commanders of the Seljuk Empire's army. After the important Battle of Manzikert in 1071, many Turkish groups, including the Saltukids, began to form their own small states, called beyliks, in Anatolia.
The Saltukids often fought against the Georgian Kingdom. They wanted to control the area around Kars. Their main city, Erzurum, was taken by the Byzantine Empire for a short time between 1077 and 1079. Later, in 1184, the Georgian King Giorgi III tried to capture Erzurum.
At their strongest, the Saltukids controlled a large area. This included all of today's Erzurum Province and Bayburt provinces. They also held lands east of Erzincan, most of Kars, and areas north of Ağrı and Muş provinces.
Important Saltukid Rulers
The first Saltukid ruler we know about was Ali, who ruled Erzurum in 1103. His son, Saltuk, took over after 1123. Saltuk had a female relative, possibly a daughter or sister, who married Sukman II, a ruler from Akhlat.
In 1132, Ali's son, Izz al-Din Saltuk, became the ruler. In 1154, the Georgians, led by Dimitri I, defeated and captured Izz al-Din. He was later set free after another ruler, Sökmen of the Artuqids, paid a ransom. Sökmen later married one of Izz al-Din's daughters.
In 1161, Izz al-Din and other Turkish allies tried to attack the Georgians at Ani, but they were defeated. Izz al-Din tried to arrange a marriage for another daughter with Kilij Arslan II. However, she was captured by a different group, the Danishmendids, and married to their leader's nephew instead.
A Woman Ruler: Melike Mama Hatun
The Saltukid family is special because a woman, Melike Mama Hatun, ruled their lands directly. She was the sister of Nasiruddin Muhammed. She ruled for about nine years, from 1191 to 1200.
Mama Hatun was a strong leader. She built an amazing caravanserai (a roadside inn for travelers) in the town of Tercan. Her tomb is also in Tercan. The town was even called "Mamahatun" for a while, and some locals still call it that today.
Eventually, the other leaders in the Saltukid state removed Mama Hatun from power. This happened after she started looking for a husband among the Mamluk nobility. Her son, Malik-Shah, then became the ruler.
The End of the Saltukids
It's important not to confuse the Saltukid rulers with Sarı Saltuk. Sarı Saltuk was a Turkish mystic and saint who lived later. He was more connected to western Anatolia and the Balkans. An epic story called Saltuknâme is dedicated to him.
The last Saltukid ruler was Alaeddin Muhammed. In 1202, the Sultan of Rum, Süleymanshah II, defeated and imprisoned him. After this, the Saltukid state became part of the Sultanate of Rum.
Buildings They Left Behind
The Saltukid rulers left behind some important buildings. These include the Tepsi Minare in Erzurum and the famous caravanserai built by Melike Mama Hatun in Tercan.
Who Ruled the Saltukids?
Here are the main rulers of the Saltukid state:
- Saltuk I (1071–1102)
- Ali (1102–1124)
- Muzaffer Gazi (1124–1132)
- Izzeddin Saltuk II (1132–1168)
- Nasiruddin Muhammed (1168–1191)
- Melike Mama Hatun (1191–1200)
- Alaeddin Muhammed (1200–1202)
See also
In Spanish: Saltúquidas para niños
