Alp Arslan
Alp Arslan , was the second sultan of the Seljuk Empire and great-grandson of Seljuk, the eponymous founder of the dynasty and the empire. He reigned from 1063 until his assassination in 1072.
Alp Arsan greatly expanded Seljuk territories and consolidated his power, defeating rivals to the south, east, and northwest. His victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 ushered in the Turkoman settlement of Anatolia. For his military achievements, he earned the name Alp Arslan, which means "Heroic Lion" in Turkish.
Early life
Historical sources differ regarding Alp Arslan's birth date. Some 12th- and 13th-century sources give 1032/1033 as his birth year, while later sources give 1030. According to İbrahim Kafesoğlu, the most likely date is 20 January 1029, recorded by the medieval historian Ibn al-Athir.Alp Arslan was the son of Chaghri Beg and nephew of Tughril, the founding sultans of the Seljuk Empire. His grandfather was Mikail, who in turn was the son of the warlord Seljuk. He was the father of numerous children, including Malik-Shah I and Tutush I. It is unclear who the mother or mothers of his children were. He was known to have been married at least twice. His wives included the widow of his uncle Tughril, a Kara-Khanid princess known as Aka or Seferiye Khatun, and the daughter or niece of Bagrat IV of Georgia. One of Seljuk's other sons was the Turkic chieftain Arslan Isra'il, whose son, Kutalmish, contested his nephew's succession to the sultanate. Alp Arslan's younger brothers Suleiman ibn Chaghri and Qavurt were his rivals. Kilij Arslan, the son and successor of Suleiman ibn Kutalmish, was a major opponent of the Franks during the First Crusade and the Crusade of 1101.
Campaigns and battles
Alp Arslan accompanied his uncle Tughril on campaigns in the south against the Fatimids, while his father Chaghri remained in Khorasan. Upon Alp Arslan's return to Khorasan, he began his work in administration at his father's suggestion. While there, his father introduced him to Nizam al-Mulk, one of the most eminent statesmen in early Muslim history and Alp Arslan's future vizier.Defense of Tokharistan (1043–44)
Taking advantage of the illness of the governor of Khorasan Chaghri, the Ghaznavid Sultan Mawdud attacked the Tokharistan region held by the Seljuks with the Ghaznavid army. Alp Arslan, who was in the city of Balkh at the time, defeated the Ghaznavids. A subsequent Ghaznavid attack was also repelled. The defeated Ghaznavids retreated, abandoning the places they had captured. Later, the Seljuk army, which launched an attack under the command of Alp Arslan and Chaghri Beg, captured the cities of Termez, Kubadhiyan, Vakhsh, Kunduz, held by the Ghaznavids, and other Tokharistan lands held by the Ghaznavids.Campaign of Kara-Khanids
A few years after Mawdud of Ghazni suffered a major defeat against the Seljuks in Tokharistan, he called on the Kara-Khanids and the Buyids to form an alliance against the Seljuks. The Kara-Khanids and the Buyids accepted Mawdud's proposition. Later, the members of this alliance took action to unite their armies. Mawdud also set out with his army to meet the Buyid and Kara-Khanid armies. However, Mawdud fell ill on the way to the meeting place, and the Ghaznavid army was forced to turn back. The Buyids army also set out from Isfahan to the meeting place, but when they passed Tabas and entered the desert, an epidemic broke out in the Buyids army. In this epidemic, the commander of the Buyids army fell ill, and the army suffered great losses. Thereupon, the Buyids turned back.The Kara-Khanid ruler Arslan Khan was unaware of these events. Arslan Khan attacked Termez and plundered the city. Later, Arslan Khan took action to capture Balkh. In the face of these events, Alp Arslan went on an expedition against the Kara-Khanids. Arslan Khan was defeated in the war that broke out between the two sides. The defeated Arslan Khan was forced to retreat, and went to the banks of the Amu Darya River. He then decided to make a peace offer to the Seljuks. When Chaghri Beg heard about this peace offer, he met with the Kara-Khanid ruler Arslan Khan with his soldiers. As a result of this meeting, peace was made between the Seljuk Empire and the Kara-Khanid Khanate.
Raid of Fasa
While Tughril I was busy with the Siege of Isfahan, Alp Arslan attacked and captured the city of Fasa, belonging to the Buyids, with his army, without the knowledge of his uncle Tughril. He then returned to Khorasan to avoid falling under the command of Tughril.Defense of Khorasan (1056)
Taking advantage of the internal turmoil in the Ghaznavid Empire, the Seljuks organized an expedition to Ghazna. The army, under the command of Chaghri, advanced as far as Bust. The Ghaznavids, who solved the problems, enthroned Farrukh-Zad. Farrukh-Zad sent his commander, named Hirhiz, against Chaghri. Hirhiz defeated Chaghri and attacked Khorasan, defeating and capturing Gul-Sarygh and other Seljuk commanders. Thereupon, Alp Arslan received permission from his father to organize an attack to the Ghaznavids, and they were defeated under the command of Hirhiz.Capture of Chaghaniyan (1059)
In 1059, Alp Arslan launched a campaign against the Kara-Khanids. During this campaign, Alp Arslan captured Chaghaniyan, which belonged to the Kara-Khanids. Following Alp Arslan's capture of Chaghaniyan, the Kara-Khanid ruler Ibrahim ibn Nasr complained against Alp Arslan to the Abbasid caliph, but to no avail. The caliph did nothing but give robes and titles to Ibrahim bin Nasr.Battle of Rey (1059)
As a result of the rebellion of Ibrahim Yinal, the Seljuk Sultan Tughril I, who was in a difficult situation, asked for help from his brother Chaghri. Chaghri responded to this request for help by sending an army under the command of his sons Alp Arslan, Qavurt, and Yakuti. The army under the command of Ibrahim Yinal and his nephews Mehmed and Ahmed, and the army under the command of Alp Arslan, Qavurt, and Yakuti encountered each other near Rey. Ibrahim Yinal and his nephews, who lost the battle, were taken prisoner.Campaign of Khuttal (1063)
Upon receiving news of the rebellion of the Khuttal Emir, Alp Arslan set out on an expedition against Khuttal. The Seljuk army, under the command of Alp Arslan, laid siege to the Hulbuk Castle, the center of Khuttal. The Hulbuk Castle was built on a mountain and the castle was fortified, which caused the first attacks to be ineffective. Later, as a result of an attack in which Alp Arslan also participated, the Khuttal Emir was killed. Later, the Hulbuk Castle was captured by the Seljuks. Alp Arslan appointed one of his own men as emir to Khuttal.Battle of Herat (1063)
After the death of Tughril, Musa Yabghu captured Herat, which was under the rule of Alp Arslan, and rebellion. In the meantime, Alp Arslan, who was dealing with the rebellion of the Khatlon emir, suppressed this rebellion and defeated the Khatlon emir, and then went on an expedition against Musa Yabghu. In the battle between the two armies near Herat, Musa Yabghu was defeated. Alp Arslan regained control of Herat and spared the life of Musa Yabghu, who was taken prisoner.Campaign of Chaghaniyan
After Alp Arslan suppressed Musa Yabghu's rebellion, he marched against Emir Musa, who rebelled in Chaghaniyan. Emir Musa was defeated and captured in the battle near Chaghaniyan. Later, the Seljuk army captured Chaghaniyan Castle. After suppressing this rebellion, Alp Arslan advanced towards Ray with his army.Battle of Damghan and Alp Arslan's accession to the throne
After the death of his father, Alp Arslan succeeded him as governor of Khorasan in 1059. His uncle Tughril died in 1063 and designated his successor as Suleiman, Alp Arslan's infant brother. Alp Arslan and his uncle Kutalmish both contested this succession, which was resolved at the battle of Damghan in 1063. Alp Arslan defeated Kutalmish for the throne and succeeded on 27 April 1064 as sultan of the Seljuk Empire, thus becoming the sole monarch of Seljuk Empire from the river Oxus to the river Tigris.Campaign of Northwest (1064)
In 1064, he led a campaign in northwestern Along with Nizam al-Mulk and Malik-Shah I, he then marched into Armenia and Georgia, which he conquered in 1064. Alp Arslan and Malik-Shah I captured the regions between Tbilisi and the Çoruh river, many cities and castles, especially Akhalkalaki, Alaverdi, Byurakan, Surmari, Hagios Georgios Castle, and Meryemnişin. Alp Arslan went on an expedition to Anatolia and Subizshahr, Akkent, Ağcakale, and surrounding Anatolian castles were captured. Ani, the most fortified castle of the Byzantine Empire, was besieged. The city of Ani was defended by two Byzantine generals, Bagrat and Gregor. After a siege of 25 days, the Seljuks captured Ani, the capital city of Armenia.After the Seljuks captured Ani, Kars surrendered to the Seljuks and was thus taken without a fight. An account of the sack and massacres in Ani is given by the historian Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, who quotes an eyewitness saying: