Süleyman I of Rûm
Encyclopedia
Suleiman ibn Qutulmish founded an independent Seljuq Turkish
state in Anatolia
and ruled as Seljuq Sultan of Rûm
from 1077 until his death in 1086.
Suleyman was the son of Kutalmish, who had struggled unsuccessfully against his cousin Alp Arslan
for the throne of Great Seljuq Empire
. When Kutalmish died in 1064, Suleyman fled with his three brothers into the Taurus Mountains
and there sought refuge with Turkmen tribes living beyond the borders of the empire. Alp Arslan responded by launching a series of punitive expeditions against them. Of the four brothers, Suleyman alone survived the raids and was able to consolidate his leadership of the Turkmen.
In 1078, the Byzantine
emperor Michael VII sought the help of Suleyman against Nicephorus Botaneiates
, the commander of the Anatolikon theme
, who had challenged the emperor for the throne. Suleyman intercepted Botaneiates' small force between Cotyaeum
and Nicaea
, whereupon the usurper persuaded Suleyman to join his rebellion by offering him incentives superior to those of the emperor. Nicephorus' bid for power was successful, and in return for their support Suleyman's Turkmen were allowed to settle on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus
, near Constantinople
itself. Two years later, Suleyman lent his support to another pretender, Nicephorus Melissenus
. It was the latter Nicephorus who opened the gates of Nicaea to the Turkmen, allowing Suleyman to establish a permanent base. All Bithynia
was soon under Suleyman's control, a circumstance which allowed him to restrict communication between Constantinople and the former Byzantine subjects in Asia Minor
.
In 1084, Suleyman left Nicaea, leaving his kinsman Abu'l Qasim
in charge.
Suleyman expanded his realm but was killed near Antioch
in 1086 by Tutush I
, the Seljuq ruler of Syria
. Suleyman's son, Kilij Arslan I
, was captured, and Malik Shah transferred him to Isfahan as a hostage. It is uncertain whether Tutush killed Süleyman out of loyalty to Malik Shah I or simply for personal gain.
Upon the death of Malik Shah I, Kilij Arslan I
re-established the Sultanate of Rûm.
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...
state in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and ruled as Seljuq Sultan of Rûm
Sultanate of Rûm
The Sultanate of Rum , also known as the Anatolian Seljuk State , was a Turkic state centered in in Anatolia, with capitals first at İznik and then at Konya. Since the court of the sultanate was highly mobile, cities like Kayseri and Sivas also functioned at times as capitals...
from 1077 until his death in 1086.
Suleyman was the son of Kutalmish, who had struggled unsuccessfully against his cousin Alp Arslan
Alp Arslan
Alp Arslan was the third sultan of the Seljuq dynasty and great-grandson of Seljuk, the eponymous founder of the dynasty...
for the throne of Great Seljuq Empire
Great Seljuq Empire
The Great Seljuq Empire was a medieval Persianate, Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire, originating from the Qynyq branch of Oghuz Turks. The Seljuq Empire controlled a vast area stretching from the Hindu Kush to eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf...
. When Kutalmish died in 1064, Suleyman fled with his three brothers into the Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains are a mountain complex in southern Turkey, dividing the Mediterranean coastal region of southern Turkey from the central Anatolian Plateau. The system extends along a curve from Lake Eğirdir in the west to the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the east...
and there sought refuge with Turkmen tribes living beyond the borders of the empire. Alp Arslan responded by launching a series of punitive expeditions against them. Of the four brothers, Suleyman alone survived the raids and was able to consolidate his leadership of the Turkmen.
In 1078, the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
emperor Michael VII sought the help of Suleyman against Nicephorus Botaneiates
Nikephoros III
Nikephoros III Botaneiates, Latinized as Nicephorus III Botaniates was Byzantine emperor from 1078 to 1081. He belonged to a family which claimed descent from the Byzantine Phokas family.- Early career :...
, the commander of the Anatolikon theme
Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)
The themes or themata were the main administrative divisions of the middle Byzantine Empire. They were established in the mid-seventh century in the aftermath of the Muslim conquests of Byzantine territory and replaced the earlier provincial system established by emperors Diocletian and...
, who had challenged the emperor for the throne. Suleyman intercepted Botaneiates' small force between Cotyaeum
Kütahya
Kütahya is a city in western Turkey with 212,444 inhabitants , lying on the Porsuk river, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Kütahya Province, inhabited by some 517 804 people...
and Nicaea
Iznik
İznik is a city in Turkey which is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea, the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Church, the Nicene Creed, and as the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea...
, whereupon the usurper persuaded Suleyman to join his rebellion by offering him incentives superior to those of the emperor. Nicephorus' bid for power was successful, and in return for their support Suleyman's Turkmen were allowed to settle on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus
Bosporus
The Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
, near Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
itself. Two years later, Suleyman lent his support to another pretender, Nicephorus Melissenus
Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos , latinized as Nicephorus Melissenus, was a Byzantine general and aristocrat. Of distinguished lineage, he served as a governor and general in the Balkans and Asia Minor in the 1060s. In the turbulent period after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, several generals tried to...
. It was the latter Nicephorus who opened the gates of Nicaea to the Turkmen, allowing Suleyman to establish a permanent base. All Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
was soon under Suleyman's control, a circumstance which allowed him to restrict communication between Constantinople and the former Byzantine subjects in Asia Minor
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
.
In 1084, Suleyman left Nicaea, leaving his kinsman Abu'l Qasim
Abu'l Qasim
Abu'l Qasim was the Seljuk governor of Nicaea, the Seljuk capital, from 1084 to his death in 1092. He was appointed to the post by Suleiman ibn Qutulmish, and after the latter's death in 1086, declared himself sultan...
in charge.
Suleyman expanded his realm but was killed near Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
in 1086 by Tutush I
Tutush I
Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I was the Seljuq ruler of Damascus from 1079 to 1095, succeeding Abaaq al-Khwarazmi. He finished the construction of the Citadel of Damascus, a project that had begun under the direction of Abaaq al Khwarizmi...
, the Seljuq ruler of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Suleyman's son, Kilij Arslan I
Kilij Arslan I
Kilij Arslan was the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm from 1092 until his death in 1107. He ruled the Sultanate during the time of the First Crusade and thus faced the brunt of the entire attack...
, was captured, and Malik Shah transferred him to Isfahan as a hostage. It is uncertain whether Tutush killed Süleyman out of loyalty to Malik Shah I or simply for personal gain.
Upon the death of Malik Shah I, Kilij Arslan I
Kilij Arslan I
Kilij Arslan was the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm from 1092 until his death in 1107. He ruled the Sultanate during the time of the First Crusade and thus faced the brunt of the entire attack...
re-established the Sultanate of Rûm.