Berkyaruq
| Barkiyaruq | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Barkiyaruq | |
| Sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire | |
| Reign | 1092–1105 |
| Predecessor | Mahmud I |
| Successor | Malik-Shah II |
| Born | 1079/1080 |
| Died | 1105 (aged 25) Borujerd |
| Issue | Malik-Shah II |
| House | House of Seljuq |
| Father | Malik-Shah I |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Abu al-Muzaffar Rukn ud-Din Barkyaruq ibn Malikshah (Template:Lang-fa), better known as Barkyaruq. The Turkic word Berk Yaruq means (firm, unwavering light),[1] was the sultan of the Great Seljuq empire from 1092 to 1105.
Early life
Barkiyaruq was born in 1079/1080,[2] the oldest son of Malik Shah I[3] and a Seljuq princess. He had five brothers; Mahmud I, Ahmed Sanjar, Mehmed I, Dawud, and Ahmad.
During his youth, the succession to the Seljuq sultanate was complicated by the death of two of his half-brothers: Dawud (died 1082) and Ahmad (died 1088), whom both were sons of the Kara-Khanid Princess Turkan Khatun, she also had a son named Mahmud (born 1087) which she wanted to succeed his father, while the vizier Nizam al-Mulk and most of the Seljuq army was in favor of Barkiyaruq.[4] Turkan Khatun then allied with Taj al-Mulk Abu'l Ghana'im to try to remove Nizam from his post. Nizam was assassinated in 1092, which made Barkiyaruq lose a powerful supporter. Barkiyaruq's father eventually died some months later. Turkhan Khatun then took the opportunity of his death, and with the support of Taj al-Mulk, put her 4 year old son, Mahmud I, on the throne, while Barkiyaruq was proclaimed as Sultan of the Seljuq Empire at Ray by the faction of the late vizier Nizam al-Mulk.
Reign
However, Mahmud I was not the only Seljuq claimant to the throne, several other Seljuq princes such as Arslan-Argun, Mehmed I, and Tutush I, also claimed the throne.[5] Taj al-Mulk was later assassinated by the ghulams of Nizam al-Mulk,[6] while Turkhan Khatun and her son Mahmud I died in 1094. One year later, Barkiyaruq clashed with Tutush I at Ray, where Barkiyaruq managed to emerge victorious and kill Tutush I along with his supporter Ali ibn Faramurz.[7]
In 1105, Barkiyaruq died in Borujerd, and was succeeded by his son Malik Shah II. It has been reported that his body was returned to Isfahan. However, some people say[who?] his tomb is in 5 km north of Borujerd, where today is a historical monument called Zavvarian.
Affairs of the Empire during his reign
During Barkiyaruq's short reign, he had five viziers, three of them were the children of Nizam al-Mulk; Izz al-Mulk Husain, Mu'ayyid al-Mulk and Fakhr al-Mulk.[8] The two other viziers were Abd-al-Dihistani Jalil and Khatir al-Mulk Abu Mansur Maybudi. During his reign, Barkiyaruq's mostly focused on a way to find money to keep the expenses of the state.
References
- ^ Notes on Some Turkish Names in Abu 'l-Faḍl Bayhaqī's Tārīkh-i Masʿūdī, C.E.Bosworth, Oriens, Vol. 36, (2001), 305.
- ^ Bosworth 1968, pp. 220–221.
- ^ E. J. Van Donzel, Islamic Desk Reference, (E.J.Brill, 1994), 464.
- ^ Bosworth 1968, pp. 68–80.
- ^ Bernard Lewis, The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam, (Basic Books Inc., 2003), 51.
- ^ Bosworth 1968, p. 57.
- ^ Bosworth 1968, p. 38.
- ^ The Political and Dynastic History of the Iranian World (AD 1000-1217), C.E. Bosworth, The Cambridge History of Iran:The Saljuq and Mongol Periods, Vol. 5, ed. J.A. Boyle, (Cambridge University Press, 1968), 105.
Sources
- Bosworth, C. E. (1968). "The Political and Dynastic History of the Iranian World (A.D. 1000–1217)". In Frye, R. N. (ed.). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 5: The Saljuq and Mongol periods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–202. ISBN 0-521-06936-X.
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