Seljuks of Anatolia, The : Court and Society in the Medieval Middle East

One of the most powerful dynasties to rule in the medieval Middle East, the Seljuks played a critical role in the development of Anatolia's multi-ethnic, multi-confessional identity. Under Seljuk rule (c. 1081-1308) the formerly Christian Byzantine territories of Anatolia were transformed by the development of Muslim culture, society and politics, and it was then – well before the arrival of the Ottomans – that a Turkish population became firmly established in these lands. But these developments are little understood, and the Seljuk dynasty remains little studied. Yet the Seljuks of Anatolia were one of the most influential dynasties of the thirteenth-century Middle East, controlling some of the major trade routes of the period, playing a crucial role in linking East and West of the medieval world. Here, Andrew Peacock and Sara Nur Yildiz explore the history of Anatolia under Seljuk rule in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, examining developments in culture, politics, religion and society and shedding new light on the influence of the dynasty within Anatolia and throughout Western Asia. The Seljuks of Anatolia examines the crucial aspect of the Seljuk dynastic identity, and how this related to their royal households, and to the material and literary arts they sought to influence and promote through patronage. It also demonstrates how the Seljuks played a critical role in the development of Islamic culture in Anatolia, with strong influences from Iran, Syria and further afield. By taking this critical role into account, this book offers an analysis of the religious transformations that occurred during this period, from the Byzantine and Christian identities that prevailed amongst the Seljuks to the Sufis that held key positions in the Seljuk court. With its lively discussion of Seljuk identity, politics and culture, The Seljuks of Anatolia will be of great interest to researchers with interests in Byzantium as well as the material culture and society of the medieval Islamic world. Under Seljuk Rule (c. 1081-1308) The Formerly Christian Byzantine Territories Of Anatolia Were Transformed By The Development Of Muslim Culture, Society And Politics, And It Was Then - Well Before The Arrival Of The Ottomans - That A Turkish Population Became Firmly Established In These Lands. But These Developments Are Little Understood, And The Seljuk Dynasty Remains Little Studied. Yet The Seljuks Of Anatolia Were One Of The Most Influential Dynasties Of The Thirteenth-century Middle East, Controlling Some Of The Major Trade Routes Of The Period, Playing A Crucial Role In Linking East And West Of The Medieval World. This Volume Examines Seljuk Culture And History By Looking At Developments Both At Court And In Society At Large And Shed New Light On Seljuk Political Culture And Dynastic Ideology, The Engagement Of Politics With Religion, And Christian-muslim Interaction. The Seljuks Of Anatolia Will Be Of Great Interest To Researchers With Interests In Byzantium As Well As The Material Culture And Society Of The Medieval Islamic World.--publisher's Website. Dynastic Identity And The Great Seljuki Inheritance. The House Of Mengüjek In Divriği: Constructions Of Dynastic Identity In The Late Twelfth Century / Oya Pancaroğlu -- The King Of The East And The West: The Seljuk Dynastic Concept And Titles In The Muslim And Christian Sources / Dimitri Korobeinikov -- A Nadīm For The Sultan: Rāwandi And The Anatolian Seljuks / Sara Nur Yıldız -- The Royal Household. Harem Christianity: The Byzantine Identity Of Seljuk Princes / Rustam Shukurov -- Paper, Stone, Scissors: 'alā' Al-dīn Kayqubād, 'iṣmat Al-dunyā Wa 'l-dīn, And The Writing Of Seljuk History / Scott Redford -- Sufis At Court And In Society. In The Proximity Of Sultans: Majd Al-dīn Iṣhāq, Ibn 'arabī And The Seljuk Court / Sara Nur Yıldız And Haṣim Şahin -- Sufis And The Seljuk Court In Mongol Anatolia: Politics And Patronage In The Works Of Jalāl Al-dīn Rūmī And Sulṭān Walad / A.c.s. Peacock -- Futuwwa In Thirteenth-century Rūm And Armenia: Reform Movements And The Managing Of Multiple Allegiances On The Seljuk Periphery / Rachel Goshgarian -- Conclusion: Research On The Seljuks Of Anatolia: Some Comments On The State Of The Art / Gary Leiser. Edited By A.c.s. Peacock And Sara Nur Yıldız. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [286]-295) And Index. CONTENTS 6 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 A NOTE ON USAGE AND TRANSLITERATION 10 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS 12 1. INTRODUCTION 16 PART I - DYNASTIC IDENTITY AND THE GREAT SELJUK INHERITANCE 38 2. THE HOUSE OF MENGÜJEK IN DIVRIGI : CONSTRUCTIONS OF DYNASTIC IDENTITY IN THE LATE TWELFTH CENTURY 40 3. ‘THE KING OF THE EAST AND THE WEST’: THE SELJUK DYNASTIC CONCEPT AND TITLES IN THE MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN SOURCES 83 4. A NADIM FOR THE SULTAN: RAWANDI AND THE ANATOLIAN SELJUKS 106 PART II - THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD 128 5. Harem Christianity: The Byzantine Identity of Seljuk Princes 130 6. PAPER, STONE, SCISSORS: ‘ALA ’AL-DIN KAYQUBAD, ‘ISMAT AL-DUNYA WA’L-DIN, AND THE WRITING OF SELJUK HISTORY 166 PART III - SUFIS AT COURT AND IN SOCIETY 186 7. IN THE PROXIMITY OF SULTANS: MAJD AL-DIN ISHAQ, IBN ‘ARABI AND THE SELJUK COURT 188 8. SUFIS AND THE SELJUK COURT IN MONGOL ANATOLIA: POLITICS AND PATRONAGE IN THE WORKS OF JALAL AL-DIN RUMI AND SULTAN WALAD 221 9. FUTUWWA IN THIRTEENTH CENTURY ARMENIA: REFORM MOVEMENTS AND THE MANAGING OF MULTIPLE ALLEGIANCES ON THE SELJUK PERIPHERY 242 10. CONCLUSION: RESEARCH ON THE SELJUKS OF ANATOLIA: SOME COMMENTS ON THE STATE OF THE ART 279 GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF SELJUK SULTANS OF ANATOLIA 291 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 292 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 301 INDEX 311 "Under Seljuk rule (c. 1081-1308) the formerly Christian Byzantine territories of Anatolia were transformed by the development of Muslim culture, society and politics, and it was then - well before the arrival of the Ottomans - that a Turkish population became firmly established in these lands. But these developments are little understood, and the Seljuk dynasty remains little studied. Yet the Seljuks of Anatolia were one of the most influential dynasties of the thirteenth-century Middle East, controlling some of the major trade routes of the period, playing a crucial role in linking East and West of the medieval world. This volume examines Seljuk culture and history by looking at developments both at court and in society at large and shed new light on Seljuk political culture and dynastic ideology, the engagement of politics with religion, and Christian-Muslim interaction. The Seljuks of Anatolia will be of great interest to researchers with interests in Byzantium as well as the material culture and society of the medieval Islamic world."--Page 4 of cover One of the most powerful dynasties to rule in the medieval Middle East, the Seljuks played a critical role in the development of Anatolia's multi-ethnic, multi-confessional identity. This book explores the history of Anatolia under Seljuk rule in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.