Author: Kapanşahin, Muhittin

Annotation: It is a noteworthy phenomenon in Turkish history that the Seljuks not only emerged as a significant political force but also accepted Islam, subsequently establishing themselves as influential advocates and guardians of their religion. Following the death of Seljuk Bey, leadership responsibilities within the emerging principality fell to his sons, Çağrı and Tuğrul. During this foundational phase of the Seljuk polity, the geopolitical and strategic dynamics involving three major regional powers—the Samanids, Ghaznavids, and Karakhanids—proved especially consequential. Seljuk leaders navigated relationships with these states by alternating between alliance and confrontation, in accordance with the shifting geopolitical and geostrategic realities of the era. The twenty-three-year reign of Sultan Tuğrul further consolidated Seljuk authority, culminating in the assumption of a protective role over the Abbasid caliphate and the broader Sunni Islamic world. Meanwhile, westward incursions by Oghuz and Turkmen groups brought them into increasing contact with Anatolia, thereby familiarizing them with its geography through a series of military campaigns. Sultan Alp Arslan, who succeeded Tuğrul Bey as the leader of the Seljuk Empire, initiated a series of pivotal events that would ultimately reshape both Turkish and world history. Notable among these were the capture of Ani Fortress and the decisive victory at the Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt). Although Alp Arslan's reign was relatively brief, he achieved considerable military successes in both east and west. These victories enabled the Seljuks to assert control over territories from which their ancestors had once been displaced in earlier migratory phases. Alp Arslan's campaigns into Turkestan not only solidified the Seljuks' position as leaders of the Muslim Turkish world but also culminated in his death, rendering him a martyr figure within the historical narrative. This study aims to examine the Seljuk Empire's eastern policy through the lens of its political engagements, with particular focus on Sultan Alp Arslan’s Turkestan campaigns and their broader impact on the region.

Keywords: Seljuks, Turkestan, Alp Arslan, Qarakhanids, Administration

Pages in journal: 14 - 25