Selçuklular

The Seljuks are a Turkic-Oghuz dynasty that reshaped the political map of the Middle East, the Caucasus, and the Kurdish geography from the 11th century onwards. Under the leadership of Tuğrul Bey, the dynasty expanded westward and quickly became the main political actor determining the fate of the Kurdish emirates and states in the region.

Arrival in the Region

The arrival of the Seljuks in the region appears at an early date in the sources of the period: el-Azîmî, in 437/1045-1046, records that Tuğrul Bey sent Kutalmış to the aid of the Shaddadid Emir Ebü’l-Esvâr, who was besieged in Dvin by Byzantine forces (Volume 1, p. 108). Tuğrul Bey's entry into Baghdad on December 18, 1055, and putting an end to the Buyids, became a turning point that fundamentally changed the balance of power in the region (Volume 1, p. 143).

Kurdish States and Malazgirt

With the rise of the dynasty, Kurdish states one after another came under Seljuk rule. Târîhu Bâbi’l-Ebvâb, narrated by Müneccimbaşı, chronologically narrates the events concerning the Shaddadids until the Seljuk Emir Savtegin captured Gence in 468/1075-1076 (Volume 1, p. 105). On the same date (H. 468/M. 1075), the Seljuks took the Shaddadid emirate under their administration; as a result, the dynasty gradually weakened and was able to maintain its existence until the end of the 6th century AH (Volume 2, p. 61). The Marwanids also began to base all their policies on the Seljuks; after Tuğrul Bey turned westward, towards the Byzantine territories bordering the Marwanids, the Seljuks became the new and decisive actor in the region (Volume 1, p. 131).

The most symbolic moment of Seljuk-Kurdish relations is the Battle of Malazgirt. When Alparslan and the Byzantine Emperor confronted each other in Zi’l-Hicce 463/August 1071, the Marwanid army also sided with Alparslan and was on the victorious side. However, the Marwanids did not profit from this victory; Alparslan's appointment of his own governors to Ahlât and Malazgirt upon his return removed these two important cities from Marwanid administration. After the death of Nizâmeddîn, the Marwanid State under the administration of Nâsıruddevle Mansûr was destroyed by the Seljuks, and the level of peace and prosperity in the region gradually declined (Volume 1, p. 132).

Expanding Sphere of Influence

Seljuk influence was not limited to only Northern and Upper Mesopotamia. The eastern part of the Cibal region was named “Iraq-i Ajam” by the Seljuks in the 6th century AH/12th century AD (Volume 2, p. 55). Intense struggles between the Hasanwayhids, Buyids, Kakuyids, and Seljuks during the Annâzîd period prevented the formation of political, social, and economic stability in the region (Volume 1, p. 147). Şerefhan Bidlisî also narrates the relations of the Lor emirates with the Seljuks, Mongols, and Ottomans (Volume 2, p. 58). Similarly, the Boht emirate struggled in various ways with the Seljuks, Atabegs, Khwarazmians, and Mongols (Volume 2, p. 112); Meyyafarikin also became the scene of conflicts between the Hamdanids, Marwanids, Seljuks, Khwarazmians, and Ayyubids (Volume 2, p. 97).

Sources of the Period

The arrival of the Seljuks in the region and their activities here are extensively covered in the sources of the period. er-Râvendî’s Râhatü’s-südûr ve âyetü’s-sürûr is a first-hand source for the politics of the Iraq Seljuks in Arrân, Georgia, and Armenia in connection with the Shaddadids between 555-590/1160-1194 (Volume 1, p. 110). Zubdetü’t-tevârih, attributed to el-Hüseynî, is valuable for shedding light on Shaddadid-Seljuk relations with the information it provides about the Seljuks' Caucasus policy centered in Georgia and Armenia (Volume 1, p. 110). Sıbt İbnü’l-Cevzî’s Mir‘âtü’z-Zamân contains records not found in other sources regarding Sultan Alp Arslan’s campaigns to Armenia and Georgia in 456/1064 and 460/1067-1068, and the marriages of Shaddadid Emir II. Fadl (Volume 1, p. 107). Vardan also provides complementary information not found in other sources regarding the Seljuks' arrival in Armenia and their activities there (Volume 1, p. 112).