Alp Arslan: Turkish Lion Who Forgotten.

Source: Wallpaper Cave.

Maybe, we most familiar with Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih, Ottoman Sultan who conquest Constantinople, we doesnt hear Alp Arslan s name, though, he is one of Turkish Hero at pre-Ottoman era. How life story of this Turkish Commander? How he started Muslim Conquest at Anatolia?  Lets discuss it, but dont forget, please subscribe my blog first, for more information about Islamic History.

At 985 AD,  at South Kazakhstan, A Jews Tribes named Guenq that came from Khazar Jews lead by Seljuq Ibn Duqaq, he has four children:. Michael, Israel, Musa, and Yunus. Seljuq Ibn Duqaq serve the Kings Of Turks at this location, Bequ. But, King Bequ has a plan to kill Seljuq because he fear this influence. Seljuq and his tribes moved to Turkistan, at Turkistan, he and his tribe convert to Islam because seeing Muslim s moral. A tribes of Guenq attacked by pagans king and Seljuq succeded defeat Pagans Army and at 1000 M, Seljuq establish the state, the state that establish by Seljuq named Seljuq Dynasty.

After Seljuq s die, State Of Seljuq lead by his sons, Michael and Israel, after their die, Seljuq s grandson, Thugril Bey, received the leadership of the state. Thugril Bey expand Seljuq territories to Gorgan, Tabaristan, Khiva, Tabas, and Ray, also conquest Hamadan, Azerbaijan, Dehestan, and other states at Persia. At 1055 AD, Thugril Bey liberate Caliphate Of Abbasid from control of Buwayh Dynasty, and Persian s Shiites Dynasty. Thugril also conquer the montain of Anatolia. At 1062 AD, Thugril die, after expand Seljuq s territories from Central Asia to Iraq.

After Thugril s die, broke civil war beetwen Thugril s brothers and childrens, but, Seljuq s regent of Khorasan, Alp Arslan succeded take Seljuq s throne, because he helped by his Persian s advisor, Nizam Al-Mulk.  Alp Arslan expand Seljuq Territories to Caucasus.

Alp Arslan also found Madrasah Nizamiyyah at 458 H, and he command to Shaykh Abu Ishaq As-Shirazy to teach here.Alp Arslan attack Shiites Dynasty Of Mirdasid at Aleppo, that lead by Mahmud Ibn Shalih Ibn Mirdas, he also tried liberate Damascus, Byblos, Tiberias, Ramlah, and Jerusalem from Shiites Dynasty Of Fathimid that oppres  s Christian at Palestine. At 1067 AD, he defeat Byzantine Army at several battle, the factor Alp Arslan s raid to Byzantine terriories because Byzantine s raids to Islamic Territories when Abbasid weakened. He succeded conquer Armenia and Caesarea from Byzantine Empire.

At 1071 AD, beetwen Seljuq and Byzantine, approved the peace, Byzantine Empire at this time under Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes, because, Alp Arslan want focus attack Fathimid Dynasty. But, Romanus IV collect army for attack Baghdad, Capital Of Abbasid Caliphate. The army that he collect consists of Byzantine Army, and Frankish Army from Europe, joined also British, Slavian, Bosnian, Georgian, Normandy, Christian Turks, and mercenaries from Bulgary and Armenian. According Historian Mehmet Maksudoglu, Alp Arslan bring 54.000 army and Romanus bring 200.000 army. The battle broke at Manzikert,  at 1071 AD, his strategy is the front of Islamic Army retreat and chased by Byzantine Army, when they retreat, the part of left and right from Islamic Army retreat Byzantine Army. Byzantine Army lose and Emperor Romanus captured by Alp Arslan, is for the first time, Muslim captured Roman Emperor at the battle.

The Battle Of Manzikert considered as turning point Islam entered Anatolia. Alp Arslan die when his expedition to East Islamic State, but Islam spread at Anatolia.\

Refrence:
At-Turbani, Jihad: 100 Tokoh Islam Yang Mengubah Sejarah, Penerbit Aqwam, 2016 M.

Tim Riset Dan Studi Islam Mesir: Ensiklopedi Sejarah Islam, Penerbit Al-Kautsar, 2019 M.

Ansary, Tamim: Dari Puncak Bagdad Sejarah Dunia Versi Islam, Penerbit Serambi, 2017 M.

Maksudoglu, Prof.DR.Mehmet: The Untold History Of Ottoman: Menelusuri Daulah Islamiyah Terbesar Di Dunia Dan Pemerintahannya, Penerbit Al-Kautsar, 2023 M.