Alp Arslan
Overview
Seljuq dynasty
The Seljuq ; were a Turco-Persian Sunni Muslim dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries...
and great-grandson of Seljuk
Seljuk
Seljuk was the eponymous hero of the Seljuq Turks. He was the son of a certain Duqaq surnamed Timuryaligh and either the chief or an eminent member from the Kınık tribe of the Oghuz Turks...
, the eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous founder of the dynasty. He assumed the name of Muhammad bin Da'ud Chaghri when he embraced Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and for his military prowess, personal valour, and fighting skills he obtained the surname Alp Arslan, which means "Heroic Lion" in Turkmen
Turkmen language
Turkmen is the national language of Turkmenistan...
.
He succeeded his father Chagri Begh as governor of Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
in 1059. When his uncle Tughril died he was succeeded by Suleiman, Alp Arslan's brother.
Quotations
I love the war because there is victory at its end.
What would you have done, had I been brought before you as a prisoner?
My punishment is far heavier, I forgive you, and set you free.