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An Ancien Persian Seljuk Bronze Tray
10th Century A.D.
Size 7 1/4 in
The Seljuq dynasty was a Turkish dynasty that hailed from the Oguz (Ghuzz) Turkic tribes. The Seljuqs would go on to invade southwestern Asia before establishing the Seljuq Empire and the Sultanate of Rum in the 11th century.
At its peak, the Seljuks held control over areas in modern day Iran, Syria, Palestine, and Turkiye. Their expansion into territories held by the Byzantine Empire made them huge targets of the First Crusaders, whose goal was to take back the Holy Land from Islamic rulers.Religion: Sunni Islam
Other names: Al-e Saljuq (in Persian), the Saljuqids, Seljuk Turkomans, Seljuk Turks
Origins
Responsible for the establishment of the Seljuk Empire and the Sultanate of Rum, the Seljuk dynasty origins can be traced to a group (i.e. the Kinik branch) of Oghuz Turkic.
Around the 8th century, the Oghuz Turks took residence in the Oghuz Yabgu State in the north of the Caspian Sea and Aral Sea.
And about two centuries later, the Oghuz Turks started interacting with a number of Muslim cities. It was also around this time that warlord Seljuk Beg, leader of the Seljuk clan, parted ways with the Oghuz Yabghu State.
