SELJUKS AND KURDS
SELÇUKLULAR VE KÜRTLER

Author : Bekir BİÇER
Number of pages : 165-202

Abstract

In this study, the issue of the "Seljuks and Kurds" is to be dealt with. The Turks are a nation who comes from Central Asia by origin, while the Kurds are originally from Western /Front Asia. Although the Seljuks and Kurds followed distinct paths while converting to Islam, their dominant and most common characteristic is their keen Islamic faith. At that time the Islamic world was represented by the State of Abbasi. But from XI. century on, Bagdat-centred State of Abbasi had weakened and small states, known as Tevaif'ul-Muluk, had been established in the Islamic geography. The politically and religiously evacuated field by the State of Abbasi had been mostly filled by Shi'i Buveyhogulları. At the same time, in Iran, Azerbaijand, Northern Iraq and Eastern Anatolia, Kurd dynasties emerged. Shi'i Buveyhogulları had become a political power in Iran, and Iraq had taken almost every Kurd dynasty under its sovereignty. The interaction of the Seljuks with the Kurdish populace first began with their settlement in Iran. As Kurd dynasties and governorships in Iran and Azerbaijan were unable to / failed to establish a sound political structure, they were politically dominated by the Buveyhis. Disputes / quarrels over the throne started among members of the dynasty. Opponent Kurd dynasties were in struggle with each other. Initially, when Seljuks and Kurds confronted in Iran, there occured big clashes between the Kurds and Oguzs. When Muslim Kurds started to get to know the Seljuks, they preferred Seljuks to Buveyhogulları. The Seljuks took side with some of the Kurdish tribes and allied with them, and strengthened their position by integrating them in their state. Seljuks made the tribes powerful. Then, when the tribes started to make trouble for the Seljuks, they put an end to their power to an end and appointed governors that were descendant of Seljuks were appointed. Under the rule of Sultan Tugrul, dynasties of Hasneveyh, Revadi, Sheddadi and Mervânî were mostly annexed/attached to Seljuks. Under the reign of Sultan Alparslan, Kurds fought on the side of Seljuks against the Byzantine at Malazgirt War. Among the Kurd dynasties, the one which was the most effective founded in Anatolia was the Mervânîs. The Mervânîs, about sixty years before the Seljuks, had conquered the vicinity of Silvan and Diyarbakır and founded the Mervânî Kurd dynasty. Mervânî dynasty was brought to an end in the period of Sultan Melikshah. During the collapse of the Seljuks Empire was being

Keywords

Seljuks, Kurds, Muslim, Front Asya, Dynasty

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