The apical ancestor of the Seljuqs, a…

The apical ancestor of the Seljuqs, a clan of Oghuz Turks moving from the steppes east of the Aral Sea, was their beg, Seljuq, who was reputed to have served in the Khazar army, under whom, circa 950, they had migrated to Khwarezm, near the city of Jend, where they converted to Islam.

The Seljuqs had been allied with the Persian Samanid Shahs against the Kara-khanids.

The Samanids had fallen to the Kara-khanids in Transoxania (992/999), however, whereafter the Ghaznavids had arisen.

The Seljuqs had become involved in this power struggle in the region before establishing their own independent base.

Tughril is the grandson of Seljuq and brother of Chaghri, under whom the Seljuqs wrest an empire from the Ghaznavids.

Very little is known of Chaghri and Tughril's lives until 1025.

Both were raised by their grandfather Seljuq until they were fifteen and fought with Ali Tigin Bughra Khan, a minor Kara-Khanid noble, against Mahmud of Ghazni.

Initially, the Seljuqs had been repulsed by Mahmud and had retired to Khwarezm, but from 1035 to 1037, Chaghri and Tughril have fought against his son and successor Mas'ud I of Ghazni.

In 1037 Tughril and Chaghri lead them in the peaceful takeover of Merv—the Ghaznavid sultan is extremely unpopular in the city.

Later, the Seljuqs repeatedly raid and trade territory with his successors across Khorasan and Balkh and even sack Ghazni in 1037.