Tughril I

This article is not about the Kerait ruler Toghrul, better known as Wang Khan the protector of Genghis Khan.

Toğrül (Tuğril or Toghrïl Beg; c. 990 – September 4 1063) was the third ruler of the Seljuk dynasty. He established the state called Great Seljuk and conquered Persia and Baghdad and expanded the borders of Great Seljuk Empire.

He ascended to power ca 1016. In 1025 he, his uncle Arslan, and his brother Chaghri (Çağrı) served under the Kara-Khanids of Bukhara who was defeated by Mahmud of Ghaznavid, and Toğrül was forced to flee to Khwarezm. He and his brother conquered the cities of Merv and Nishapur in 1028–1029 and soon controlled all of Khorasan. In 1040 they won the Battle of Dandanaqan against Mahmud's son, Mas'ud. Toğrül then conquered Iran in 1040-1044 and Baghdad in 1055, though an uprising against the Seljuks led to the loss of the city to the Fatimid Caliph of Cairo in 1058. Two years later Toğrül crushed the rebellion and entered Baghdad. He died in the city of Rayy in modern Iran and was succeeded by his nephew, Alp Arslan. He could not have a son; Alp Arslan was the son of his brother, Chagri Begh.