The Seljuk Empire was a Sunni Muslim empire founded by Oghuz Turks from Central Asia, who moved into Persia in the eleventh century. Under Tughril Beg the Seljuks took Baghdad and became the protectors of the Abbasid caliphs, with the title of sultan. Under Alp Arslan they defeated the Byzantine Empire at the battle of Manzikert in 1071, opening Anatolia to Turkish settlement. Under Malik-Shah the empire reached its greatest extent, and the vizier Nizam al-Mulk built a network of madrasas. After Malik-Shah's death the realm broke up into smaller successor states, and the last Great Seljuk ruler in Iran was defeated by the Khwarazmians.
Before and after
- 1025Avicenna completes the Canon of Medicine
- 8 November 1028Birth of William the Conqueror
- 1031Construction of Krak des Chevaliers
- from 1035 to 1707Kingdom of Aragon
- from 1037 to 1194Seljuk Empire
- 18 June 1037Death of Avicenna
- from 1038 to 1227Western Xia
- from 1040 to 1147Almoravid dynasty
- 1044Anawrahta founds the Pagan Empire in Burma
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 710 CEConstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque
- from 2 February 962 CE to 6 August 1806Holy Roman Empire
- 990 CEConstruction of Château de Montsoreau
- from 11th century to 18th centuryHouse of Habsburg
- from c. 1113 to 1150Suryavarman II builds Angkor Wat
- 1420Construction of Kremlin
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.