Chaghri

Chaghri Beg/Bey (also spelled Chagri Beg/Bey, modern Turkish: Çağrı Bey or Davut Çağrı; 989 - c. 1059) was the co-ruler of the early Seljuq empire. His name means "merlin" or "falcon".

Background

Battle of Dandanaqan

Chaghri and his brother Tughril were the sons of Mikail and the grand-sons of Seljuq. The Great Seljuq Empire was named after the later, who was a Turkic clan leader either in Khazar or Oghuz states. In the early years of the 11th century, they left their former home and moved near the city of Jend, by the Syr Darya river, where they accepted the suzerainty of the Karakhanids in Transoxania (roughly modern Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan). After the defeat of the Karakhanids by Ghaznavids, they were able to gain independence.

Biography

Between 1016 and 1022, Chaghri led an Oghuz army to west and fought against Byzantine Empire in east Anatolia (modern Turkey). After the Ghaznavid intervention, however, he returned to Transoxania. In 1035 and 1037 Chaghri and Tughril fought against Mas'ud I of Ghazni. Chaghri captured Merv (an important historical city now in Turkmenistan). Between 1038 and 1040 Chaghri fought against the Ghaznavids, usually with hit and run manoeuvres. Major clash was the Battle of Dandanaqan. Tughril was rather hesitant and suggested to continue with the hit and run operations. But Chagri preferred to fight and he commanded the Seljuk army. In Dandanaqan Seljuks defeated the superior Gaznavid army. A kurultai was held after the battle, by which empire was divided between the two brothers. While Tughril reigned in the west (comprising modern western Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq), Chaghri reigned in eastern Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. Chaghri later also captured Balkh (in modern North Afghanistan). In 1048, he conquered Kerman in South Iran and, in 1056, the Sistan region (south east Iran).

Chaghri died in Sarakhs, in North-eastern Iran. The historical sources do not agree on the exact date of his death: years 1059, 1060, 1061 and 1062 were proposed. But it is purported that numismatics can be used to determine the exact death date. Coins were minted in the name of Chaghri up to 1059 and in the name of his son Kavurt after 1060, so Chaghri's death can be ascribed more probably to 1059.

Legacy

Unlike later Ottoman practice, in earlier Turkic tradition, brothers usually participated in government affairs.(Bumin - İstemi in the 6th century, Bilge Khan – Kultegin in the 8th century are notable examples.) Tughril and Chaghri as well as some other members of the family participated in the foundation of the empire. Although Tughril gained the title "sultan", it was Chaghri’s sons who continued it afterwards.

Chaghri had six sons and four daughters. Among his sons, Alp Arslan became the sultan in 1064. All the remaining members of the Great Seljuq Empire were from Chaghri’s lineage. Another son, Kavurt, became the governor of Kerman (which later on became fully independent); a third son, Yakuti, became the governor of Azerbaijan.