Arslan Isra'il

Arslan Isra'il, also known as Arslan Yabgu (d. 1032) was a Turkic chieftain, who was from the Kınık tribe, which would later establish the Seljuk Empire. His name Arslan means "the lion".

Biography

Background

Kınık tribe was one of the Oghuz Turkic tribes. They emerged in the area north of the Seyhun (Syr Darya River). According to some historians, they might be the former vassals of the Khazars. They settled around the city of Jend, which was close to the territory of the Karakhanids, who controlled most of Transoxiana. However they were unruly neighbors. During the Karakhanid - Samanid wars (992) they supported the Samanids instead of the Karakhanids. (Samanids were a Persian state to the south of Amu Darya.) Seljuk, the leader of the tribe was old and Arslan, one of his sons, distinguished himself during the battles against Karakhanids. Seljuk, died in 1009 and Arslan became the leader of the tribe.^[1]

Political life

Karakhanids were several times defeated by Aslan's forces. Arslan also supported Ali Tigin during the Karakhanid civil war. Finally in 1025, Karakhanid sultan Yusuf Kadir met with Mahmud of Ghazni to form a coalition against Kınık. (Ghaznavids were a Turkic clan which had founded and empire in what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan.) The threat was too big for the tribe and Arslan relocated his tribe in the deserts.^[1] However, Arslan and his son Qutalmish were taken prisoner by Mahmud. There are two alternative stories of his surrender. According to Jean Paul Roux he was captured in a battle.^[2] But according to Islam Encyclopaedia, Mahmud arrested Arslan by a plot. He invited Arslan for piece talks. During the dinner following the talks, Arslan as well as his son Qutalmish were arrested and the soldiers accompanying them were killed. Mahmud sent Arslan and Qutalmish to Kalinjar Fort (which is now in India). ^[1]

Later years

Arslan spent the rest of his life in prison. After Mahmud's death Tughril, Arslan's nephew and Mas'ud I of Ghazni, Mahmud's successor tried to reach an aggrement. But the talks failed and Arslan died in prison in 1032.^[1]

Aftermath

Tughril and Chaghri, Arslan's nephews founded the Seljuk Empire. Qutalmish who had escaped from the prison also participated in the battles. But in later years he competed unsuccessfully for the throne.

References

1. Islam Encycloapedia Vol 3 p.403-404 (Turkish)
2. Jean Paul Roux: Türklerin Tarihi (tr:Aykut Kazancıgil-Lale Arslan Özcan),Kabalcı Yayınevi, İstanbul,2007, ISBN 975-997-091-0, p.202-207

Sources

• Sevim, A.; Bosworth, C. E. (1996). "The Seljuqs and the Khwarazm Shahs". History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Volume III: The Crossroads of Civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. Paris: UNESCO. pp. 145–177. ISBN 92-3-103211-9.
• Davidovich, E. A. (1996). "The Karakhanids". History of Civilizations of Central Asia, Volume III: The Crossroads of Civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. Paris: UNESCO. pp. 119–145. ISBN 92-3-103211-9.
• Bosworth, C. E. (1968). "The Political and Dynastic History of the Iranian World (A.D. 1000–1217)". In Frye, R. N. The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 5: The Saljuq and Mongol periods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–202. ISBN 0-521-06936-X.