Chaghri Beg

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.

Chaghri and Tughril have fought against the Ghaznavids between 1038 and 1040, usually with hit and run maneuvers.

When the Seljuq leaders begin raising an army, they are seen as a threat to the Ghaznavid territories.

Following the looting of border cities by Seljuq raids, Sultan Mas'ud I decides to expel the Seljuqs from his territories.

Tughril had suggested to continue with the hit and run operations, but Chagri, who commands the Seljuq army, prefers to fight.

During the march of Sultan Mas'ud's army to Sarakhs, the Seljuq raiders harass the Ghaznavid army with hit-and-run tactics.

Seljuq raiders also destroye the supply lines of the Ghaznavids, cutting them off from the nearby water wells.

The discipline and morale of the Ghaznavid army drops precipitously.

Finally, on May 23, 1040, around twenty thousand Seljuq soldiers engage in battle with an estimated fifty thousand Ghaznavid soldiers in Dandanaqan, between Merv and Sarakhs; the Seljuqs are victorious.

They soon occupy Khorasan and the cities of the area, encountering little resistance.

A kurultai is held after the battle, by which the nascent empire is divided between the two brothers.

While Tughril reigns in the west (comprising modern western Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq), Chaghri reigns in eastern Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan.

Muhammad dies in September 1041 while campaigning in Kurdistan against the Annazids.

His eldest son Faramurz succeeds him in Isfahan, while …

…his younger son Garshasp I gains Hamadan.

However, they have a difficult task in protecting these regions from the expansionist Seljuqs, who have become neighbors with the Kakuyids.

Tughril, the co-leader of the Seljuqs, makes Rey the capital of his kingdom after his defeat of the Ghaznavids.

Abu Harb, the third son of Muhammad, had rebelled against his older brother and called upon help from the Buyids of Fars.

Faramurz had defeated him, however.

Relations with Faramurz and Tughril are highly important.

It seems that Faramurz was present with the Seljuqs at the battle of Dandanaqan against the Ghaznavids.

When Faramurz ascended to the Kakuyid throne, Tughril had secured his allegiance by sending a tribute of payment to Faramurz.

However, neither Faramurz nor his brother Garshasp I are willing to turn to the side of Seljuqs.

In 1045, the Dailamites and Kurds of Jibal make a stand together to resist the advance of the Turkmens from Khorasan.

Tughril arrives to Isfahan, and Faramurz submits to the Seljuqs.

Around 1045-46, after Tughril's return to Khorasan, Faramurz declares himself independent of Seljuq rule, and submits to the Buyids, forcing Tughril to return to Isfahan, where he defeats the Kakuyids, and makes Faramurz his vassal once again.

Constantinople’s conquest of Armenia is short-lived.

The Seljuq Turks, whose conquests are to change the whole shape of the Muslim and Christian worlds, now make their appearance on the Armenian frontier, which is directly exposed to attack.

The late Seljuq had been chief of the Islamicized Oghuz Turkmen tribes in the Jand region.

Seljuq's two grandsons, Chaghri Beg and Tughril Beg, have enlisted Persian support to win realms of their own.

Tughril has occupied the Caspian areas of Khorasan, Rayy, and Hamadan and established his suzerainty over Isfahan.

A methodical ruler who has succeeded in building an empire by careful planning, Tughril leads the first Seljuq raid into Armenia in 1048.

Tughril reigns in the west (comprising modern western Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq), while his brother Chaghri reigns in eastern Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan.

Chaghri had also captured Balkh (in modern North Afghanistan).

In 1048, he conquers Kerman in South Iran.

The Seljuqs, having captured Isfahan, in 1051 make it their capital of their rapidly expanding empire.