Malik-Shah I () was the third sultan of the Seljuk Empire from 1072 to 1092, under whom the sultanate reached the zenith of its power and influence. During his youth, he spent his time participating in the campaigns of his father Alp Arslan, along with the latter's vizier Nizam al-Mulk. During one such campaign in 1072, Alp Arslan was fatally wounded and died only a few days later. After that, Malik-Shah was crowned as the new sultan of the empire, but the succession was contested by his uncle Qavurt. Although Malik-Shah was the nominal head of the Seljuk state, Nizam al-Mulk held near absolute power during his reign. Malik-Shah spent the rest of his reign waging war against the Karakhanids to the east and establishing order in the Caucasus.
Etymology Although he was known by several names, he was mostly known as "Malik-Shah", a combination of the Arabic word malik (king) and the Persian word shah (which also means king).
Early life Malik-Shah was born on 16 August 1055 and spent his youth in Isfahan. According to the 12th-century Persian historian Muhammad bin Ali Rawandi, Malik-Shah had fair skin, was tall and somewhat bulky. In 1064, Malik-Shah, only 9 years old by then, along with Nizam al-Mulk, the Persian vizier of the Empire, took part in Alp Arslan's campaign in the Caucasus. The same year, Malik-Shah was married to Terken Khatun, the daughter of the Karakhanid khan Ibrahim Tamghach-Khan. In 1066, Alp Arslan arranged a ceremony near Merv, where he appointed Malik-Shah as his heir and also granted him Isfahan as a fief.
In 1071, Malik-Shah took part in the Syrian campaign of his father, and stayed in Aleppo when his father fought the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV Diogenes at Manzikert. In 1072, Malik-Shah and Nizam al-Mulk accompanied Alp-Arslan during his campaign in Transoxiana against the Karakhanids. However, Alp-Arslan was badly wounded during his expedition, and Malik-Shah shortly took over the army. Alp-Arslan died some days later, and Malik-Shah was declared as the new sultan of the empire.
Campaigns and Battles Campaign in the Northwest (1064)
Malik-Shah joined his father Alp Arslan's expedition to the northwest in 1064. He took part in the capture of castles in Georgia and Armenia together with his father Alp Arslan. He advanced along the Aras River with the army under the command of Malik-Shah. He captured many castles and cities in the region, especially Meryemnişin, Byurakan, Hagios Georgios and Surmari. During this campaign, Malik-Shah also participated in the Siege of Ani (1064).
Other Campaigns and Battles He Participated in During His Şehzade Period In addition to the Campaign in the Northwest, Sultan Malik-Shah also participated in his father Sultan Alp Arslan's campaigns in the Campaign in Northern Syria and Anatolia, and the Campaign in Turkestan (1072), and fought in these campaigns during.
Battle of Kerj Abu Dulaf (1073)
However, right after Malik-Shah's accession, his uncle Qavurt claimed the throne for himself and sent Malik-Shah a message which said: "I am the eldest brother, and you are a youthful son; I have the greater right to my brother Alp-Arslan's inheritance." Malik-Shah then replied by sending the following message: "A brother does not inherit when there is a son." This message enraged Qavurt, who thereafter occupied Isfahan. In 1073, the Battle of Kerj Abu Dulaf took place near Hamadan, lasting three days. Qavurt was accompanied by his seven sons, and his army consisted of Turkmens, while the army of Malik-Shah consisted of ghulams ("military slaves") and contingents of Kurdish and Arab troops.
During the battle, the Turks of Malik-Shah's army mutinied against him, but he nevertheless managed to defeat and capture Qavurt. Qavurt then begged for mercy and in return promised to retire to Oman. However, Nizam al-Mulk declined the offer, claiming that sparing him was an indication of weakness. After some time, Qavurt was strangled to death with a bowstring, while two of his sons were blinded. After having dealt with that problem, Malik-Shah appointed Qutlugh-Tegin as the governor of Fars and Sav-Tegin as the governor of Kerman.
Campaign in Transoxiana (1073)
Malik-Shah then turned his attention towards the Kara-Khanids, who had after the death of Alp Arslan invaded Tukharistan, which was ruled by Malik-Shah's brother Ayaz, who was unable to repel the Kara-Khanids and was killed by them. Malik-Shah went on a campaign to Transoxiana with his army in 1073. Malik-Shah finally managed to repel the Kara-Khanids and after Balkh and Herat, he headed towards Termez and captured Termez, giving the key of the city to Sav-Tegin. Malik-Shah then appointed his other brother Shihab al-Din Tekish as the ruler of Tukharistan and Balkh. During the same period, the Ghaznavid ruler Ibrahim was seizing Seljuk territory in northern Khorasan, but was defeated by Malik-Shah, who then made peace with the latter and gave his daughter Gawhar Khatun in marriage to Ibrahim's son Mas'ud III.
Campaign in Kerman In 1074, following the events that occurred during the reign of Sultan-Shah (son of Qavurt), who ascended to the throne of Kerman as governor of Kerman, Sultan Malik-Shah decided to launch an expedition against Kerman. Entering Kerman territory with his army, Malik-Shah laid siege to Bardsir, Kerman's largest city and capital, but refrained from fighting after the Sultan-Shah begged for forgiveness. Malik-Shah only demolished one of the bastions of Kuhan, one of Bardsir's castles. After leaving Sultan-Shah as governor of Kerman, he returned to Isfahan, the capital of the Great Seljuk Empire.
Campaign in Georgia (1075-76) During George II's reign, some disagreements and internal turmoil arose. Consequently, Malik-Shah I launched an expedition against Georgia. Malik-Shah I came to Kartli with his army and captured some of the fortresses located there. Malik-Shah I later took Ganja from Fadlun and gave the administration of the region to Savtegin, then returned to his capital with his army.
First Campaign against the Qarmatian
At the request of the Abbasid caliph Muqtadi, Sultan Malik-Shah I decided to launch an expedition against the Qarmatians. In 1075, Malik-Shah sent an army under the command of Hajib Kichkine against the Qarmatians. Before embarking on the campaign, Hajib Kiçkine made several agreements and formed an alliance. The Seljuk army under the command of Hajib Kiçkine left Isfahan and arrived in Basra. Shortly thereafter, they were joined by Gevherayin the Military Governor's of Baghdad and Seljuk army set out for Qatif. During this journey, the Qays and Qubas tribes in the region launched plundering attacks against the Seljuk army. In the ensuing battle between the two sides, the Seljuk army was victorious. When the Seljuk army approached Qatif, he sent a message to the city's ruler, Yahya ibn Abbas. However, Yahya ibn Abbas, citing his war with the Qays and Qubas tribes as justifications, refused to honor previous agreements and threatened the Seljuks. Consequently, Yahya ibn Abbas was defeated in the ensuing battle. Later, Yahya ibn Abbas made an agreement with the Qays and Qubas tribes, attacked the Seljuk army, and plundered its supplies and logistics. The hardship left Hajib Kiçkine and the Seljuk army weakened. A sudden raid by Yahya ibn Abbas and his allies later disintegrated the Seljuk army under Hajib Kiçkine. The Seljuk forces retreating towards Basra returned without the opportunity to fight the Qarmatians.
Second Campaign against the Qarmatian Following the failure of Hajib Kiçkine, Sultan Malik-Shah I assigned a 7,000-strong Seljuk army under the command of Artuk Bey to launch an expedition against the Qarmatians. The Seljuk army under Artuk Bey first marched to Qatif. Hearing of the Seljuks arrival, Yahya ibn Abbas fled to Bahrain, and the Seljuks captured Qatif. The Seljuks then attacked the Qarmatians in Ahsa and besieged them in their castle. After the Qarmatians requested peace and an agreement was reached, Artuk Bey lifted the siege. Following this, he launched a successful attack on the Qarmatians in Bahrain and brought them under his control. Following these campaigns, Artuk Bey went to Baghdad, leaving a 200-man detachment under his brother Alpkuş as his proxy. Supported by the Arab tribes of Azd and Amir Rebia, the Qarmatians, emboldened by Artuk Bey's departure from Ahsa with a large portion of his army, attacked the Seljuks and their allies. In a battle fought between the two sides near Beyberrahbeteyn, the Qarmatians were defeated. The Seljuk allies captured the fortress of Ahsa, but they refused to allow the Seljuk army to enter. After this defeat, the Qarmatians launched an attack with their allies. In the battle between the two sides near Ahsa, the Qarmatians and their allies were defeated and suffered heavy losses. A dispute later arose between Abdullah ibn Ali and Alpkuş. Abdullah ibn Ali killed Alpkuş. Artuk Bey, upon hearing of his brother's death, marched with his army and besieged the fortress of Ahsa, where Abdullah ibn Ali was stationed. After a fierce siege, Artuk captured Abdullah ibn Ali's son in exchange for his brother and lifted the siege.
Campaign in Anatolia (1078) Suleiman-Shah took the side of Sultan Malik-Shah against the independence activities of his brother Mansur and asked for help from Sultan Malik-Shah. Upon this, Sultan Malik-Shah dispatched the Seljuk army under the command of Emir Porsuk to restore order in Anatolia. Emir Porsuk engaged in a struggle with Mansur, and as a result, Mansur was killed by Porsuk. Suleiman-Shah, as a Seljuk vassal, became the sole sultan of the Sultanate of Rum.
Campaign in Georgia (1078-79) Savtegin went on a campaign against the George II. He was defeated in the battle near Partskhisi and retreated. Thereupon, Malik-Shah I organized a second campaign against Georgia in 1078-1079. Malik-Shah, who entered Georgia, invaded the Somkheth region with his army, captured Samshvilde and put things in order, and returned, leaving new forces for Savtegin. After Malik-Shah returned, Savtegin moved against the Georgians, but George II defeated him once again in the battle near Partskhisi. After Savtegin was defeated by the Georgians, Malik-Shah sent Emir Ahmed to Georgia. Ahmed defeated the Georgians and captured Kars, Erzurum, Oltu and some cities subject to Byzantium. The following year, the Seljuks captured Şavşat, Adjara, Kartli, Ardanuç and the areas up to Trabzon. George II went to Isfahan and accepted to be a vassal of Malik-Shah.
Campaign in Khorasan (1081) In 1081, while inspecting the army in the city of Rey, Sultan Malik-Shah dismissed 7,000 Armenians who had entered the army disguised as Turks. These Armenians went to Malik-Shah's brother Tekish and entered his service. Tekish, strengthened by this situation, rebelled. During this rebellion, Tekish captured Marw al-Rudh, Shāhijān or Marw al-Shāhijān, and Termez. News of Tekish's rebellion reached Malik-Shah, and Malik-Shah led a campaign to the region. Meanwhile, Tekish was preparing to capture Nishapur, but Malik-Shah arrived in the city before him and took it over. Upon learning of Malik-Shah's arrival, Tekish retreated to Termez. Malik-Shah came to Termez and laid siege to the city. Realizing that he would be defeated, Tekish came to Malik-Shah and begged for forgiveness. Malik-Shah forgave his brother and did not punish him.
Campaign in Herat Toghan-Shah, the governor of Herat in the Great Seljuk Empire, rebelled against his brother Malik-Shah. In response to this rebellion, Malik-Shah launched an expedition against his brother. In the ensuing struggle between Malik-Shah and Toghan-Shah, Toghan-Shah was defeated and captured. Malik-Shah later imprisoned his brother in the Isfahan Castle.
Campaign against the Marwanids