Rise of New Islamic Worlds: Seljuk Empire in 12th Century

1. New IslamicWorlds:12th-15thCenturies Battling for Islam – Umayyad Power: February 3

2. Rise of New Islamic Worlds The ‘Turks’: Seljuk Empire or ‘Seljuk of Rum’ The Mongols: in Western Sphere The ‘Turks’: Osmanli Dynasty – known as the Ottomans (in the west).

3. Rise of New Islamic Worlds (1) The Turks: Met them first when discussing Islamic movement into Central Asia/frontiers with China Among earliest sources for Turks are 6th c. Chinese ‘khans’ (chiefs) under nominal Tang Dynasty

4. Origins of TurkishClans: CentralAsia

5. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Evidence of early Turkic language: c. 730 Islam gaining influence under Umayyads in Asia [see lecture “End of Umayyad Caliphate”] Same era (6th-8th c.): Turkish nomads moving West, into Anatolia: enlisted by Byzantines in 7th c. against Sassanians (Persians)

6. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Migrations among Turikish nomadic clans: characterized Central Asia – push/pull factors Reasons varied (climate e.g. drought; political conflict; attractions of better pasture, trade…) In process: ‘jostling’ against each other and engaging in different conversions – both Christian and Islamic

7. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Oguz Turks: one of these ‘tribes on the move’ Embraced Islam in the 10th C. Moved into Transovania under Khan Seljuk (chief of clan ‘Seljuk’) Later moved further west: entered service of Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad

8. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Turkish clans like Oguz important to Caliphate: Abbasids exploited internal dissensions between Turkish clans As protectors of frontiers, often fought against other Turks

9. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1055: Seljuk Khan (Tugrul Bey) occupied Baghdad One of these clan leaders turned his ‘army’ consisting of gazzi (those claiming to fight in the name of jihad) and mamluks (slave soldiers from various backgrounds) – against the very power it was supposed to be protecting

10. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Emergence of two Powers: Abbasid Caliph left as nominal ‘Islamic’ authority, but Seljuk Khan demanded recognition as ‘temporal’ leader or ‘Sultan’ Regime eliminated ‘Arabs’ from government and put ‘Persians’ in place: known as ‘Great Seljuk Empire’

11. Rise of New Islamic Worlds “Champions of Sunni Islam”: Not only built empire but did so in name of Sunni Islam Successor prepared campaign against Egypt because it was Shia (Fatimid) But…developments in Anatolia more engaging

12. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Seljuk administration: based on continued jihad Depended on warriors to ‘hold’ territory Gazzis became largely autonomous force: raiding into and looting Byzantine territory Seljuk Turks needed to move into Anatolia to ‘control’ situation

13. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1071: took on Byzantines at Manzikert Success opened Anatolia to Seljuk conquest By 1080: had won control of region BUT: attention to West had cost them in the East

14. Seljuk Dynasty late 11th C.: shows newly won Baghdad, Anatolia Baghdad

15. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Having made peace with the Byzantines the Seljuks intended to attack Egypt: Khan Alp Arslan learned in Aleppo of the Byzantine advance

16. Rise of New Islamic Worlds he returned north, met the Byzantines north of Lake Van: Battle of Manzikert

17. Rise of New Islamic Worlds States carved out under nominal authority of Baghdad: Had strong Turkish migration Strongest centred on Konya: known as ‘Sultanate of Rum’ (or ‘Rum Sultanate’) – meaning ‘Rome’, reference to Anatolia being the legacy of ‘Eastern Roman Empire’

19. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Konya: Ruled as tribal confederation Ruling family chose Khan: loyalties to Clan Succession frequently challenged

20. Rise of New Islamic Worlds “Cost” in terms of two issues: One: Authorities in Baghdad (still under impotent Abbasid Caliph): not interested in Anatolia No effort to exert/implement real authority in wake of military success May have been related to Mongols (Two, below)

21. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Two: East suffering ongoing attacks by Mongols (developed below)

22. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Government/Administrative Structure: Sultan: military leader who left ‘governing’ in hands of viziers (prime ministers): Persians Emirs: governors, provincial military commanders Begs : autonomous regional commanders [atabeg – equivalent of emir]

23. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Seljuksessentially replaced Byzantine officials: New elite was Turkish and Muslim (rather than Byzantine and Christian): little else changed Impact: gradual conversion to Islam, incorporation of Turkish culture, facilitated by growing levels intermarriage (both urban, rural)

24. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Impact of the Crusades: First Crusade 1095: goal Jerusalem Although Baghdad still ‘centre’ (and in Abbasid hands): real Crusade was against the Seljuks [refer also to Pope Urban’s speech 1095 – made it clear who HE saw as enemy: ‘Persians’]

25. Rise of New Islamic Worlds First Crusader Attack on Konya: Defeat of Seljuks decisive and important Led to re-establishment of Byzantine rule in western part of Anatolia and Coastal Syria – “Crusader States” [last week’s lectures]

26. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1040s: Seljuk Rum empire -- began to re-take many Christian conquests, including Konya Survived until late 13th c. as ‘vassal’ of Mongols Mongols had successfully besieged Baghdad 1257-8 [more below]: little interest in Anatolia treated Seljuks as ‘extensions’ of empire they had just conquered

27. [pre Mongol conquest of Baghdad in 1257-8]

28. Rise of New Islamic Worlds By 1330s: Anatolia, Syria Several gazzi (term for warriors supposedly fighting jihad) ruled emirates competed for dominance, power against each other – largely autonomous of Eastern Regions It was in this political chaos that new power emerged: ancestors of Ottomans [see below #3]

29. [post Mongol conquest of Baghdad in 1257-8]

30. Rise of New Islamic Worlds (2) The Mongols: Mongol Nomads from Central Asia: first drawn into powerful confederation by Genghis Khan c. 1200 This is after Salah ad-Din’s death (1193) but within era of the Ayyubid dynasty of which he was a part (1169-1250)

31. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1206 1218 1227

32. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Originally shamanist: as moved out of Central Asia – embraced range of religions they encountered including Buddhism, Christianity (Eastern) and Islam: mostly Sunni but Shia in some regions

33. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Gazan Khan (grandson Genghis): converted to Islam ,made it ‘official’ religion (1295-1304) [right] Coins minted in his name with Arabic/Islamic inscriptions [below]

34. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Late 11th c.: sporadic Mongol attacks on Baghdad 1185: visitor described city as having “no beauty that attracts the eye…”

35. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1242: last Abbasid Caliph came to power in Baghdad Later Muslim accounts paint him as bad, immoral caliph, surrounded by equally corrupt court Need to remember practice of ‘adjusting’ later accounts to ‘shape’ history: here he is the literal ‘end’ of the Arab-conquest based empire

36. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Most significant points: while Caliph and most of Court were Sunni Muslims: vizier was Shia Many resented, distrusted him: yet he was in ‘key’ position Also military commander: ‘personally’ ambitious

37. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1254: Khan Hulagu began campaigns into Middle East Over two years: most local rulers just submitted Faced resistance in Northern Iran: Ismailis – defeated them By 1256: on the borders of Abbasid Caliphate

38. Hulagu [left] and his Army [above]

39. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1256: Baghdad struck by major flood (Tigris River) Led to internal violence: Shia – Sunni divide Caliph’s son (Sunni) led massacre into Shia neighbourhood Vizier (Shia) protected 100s of refugees in own palace

40. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Identified by Chronicles as crucial moment: proof that the Vizier later secretly supported the Mongols in their effort to take Baghdad 1257: Baghdad under siege 1258: last Abbasid Caliph surrendered city to Mongol devastation: looting, burning, killings[see readings]

41. * Hulagu’s Conquests – “Khanate” [above] Siege of Baghdad [right]

42. Mongol Empire c. 1256

43. Rise of New Islamic Worlds (3) The Ottomans: Early history shrouded in legends Khan of Ogzuz Turks fled from violence of Mongol attacks in mid 13th c. into Anatolia Offered service to Sultan of Seljuk Rum Given land ‘to defend’ (for empire) near Bursa

44. Rise of New Islamic Worlds *

45. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Well situated to profit from. . . Rich agricultural land, pasture sea trade on both Mediterranean and Black Seas commercial international caravan traffic – natural ‘carrefour’

47. Rise of New Islamic Worlds 1299: his son Osman succeeded Founder of Osmanli (‘Ottoman’) Dynasty Exemplified Anatolian beg: established allies, raided neighbours, married into Christian families (his son married daughter of local Christian Chief) built principality ‘fiefdom’ (beylick)

48. Rise of New Islamic Worlds His wealth and ‘success’ in terms of Seljuk values: attracted followers who brought their with herds made him attractive to local powerful dervishes [sufis] drew Islamic scholars to his people -- and his people to Islam as process of conversion accelerated

49. Rise of New Islamic Worlds *

50. Rise of New Islamic Worlds Osmanli beylick: emerged predominant in region more respected and powerful than competing neighbours but not essentially ‘different’ by time of death (1323/4), Osman able to: - strike coins in his name - issue endowment deeds - undertake long, military operations