Sökmen el-Kutbî

Sökmen el-Kutbî was a Türkmen military commander, a former slave amir in the service of the Seljuks, who became the founder of the Shah-i Arman dynasty, also known as the Shah-Armens or Ahlatshahs.

Early life

He was a subordinate and ghilman of Seljukid prince Kutbüddin İsmâil İlarslan. After his superior was killed in a battle, upon the request of the citizens, he moved to Ahlat where he fought against Marwanids and captured the city on behalf of the Great Seljuk Empire in 1100.

Beylik

Sökmen captured the nearby settlements to the north and west of the Lake Van and increased his power of influence. His most successful conquest is the conquest of Silvan. In 1109 he suffered a defeat by the Armenian local ruler Kogh Vasil who held territory around Raban and Kaysun. Sökmen was always loyal to the Seljukid sultan Mohammad I Tapar and participated in the campaigns of the sultan. Mohammad in turn granted Ahlat to Sökmen as an ikta in 1110. Thus this date is now considered to be the date of the establishment of Ahlatshahs Beylik. In some documents the name of the beylik is "Sökmenli" referring to Sökmen.

Death

In 1111, he was invited to participate in a Seljukid campaign. With his troops he joined the main Seljukid army. But during the siege of Turbessel he died in August 1111. His coffin was sent to Ahlat.