Malik-Shah I

"Malik Shah" redirects here. For other uses, see Malik Shah (disambiguation).

The Malik Shah I (miniature)

Jalāl al-Dawlah Malik-shāh or simply Malik Shāh (Persian: ملكشاه, Modern Turkish: Melikşah; died 1092) was the Seljuq sultan from 1072 to 1092.

He drove the Byzantine Empire out of most of Anatolia following their defeat by his father Alp Arslan at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Likewise, he reformed the calendar with the Jalāli calendar in 1079. Malik Shah expanded Seljuq power into Syria at the expense of the Fatimids of Egypt, setting up client princes in Edessa, Aleppo and Damascus.

18th century English historian Edward Gibbon wrote of him:

On his father's death the inheritance was disputed by an uncle, a cousin, and a brother: they drew their cimeters, and assembled their followers; and the triple victory of Malek Shah established his own reputation and the right of primogeniture. In every age, and more especially in Asia, the thirst of power has inspired the same passions, and occasioned the same disorders; but, from the long series of civil war, it would not be easy to extract a sentiment more pure and magnanimous than is contained in the saying of the Turkish prince. On the eve of the battle, he performed his devotions at Thous, before the tomb of the Imam Riza. As the sultan rose from the ground, he asked his vizier Nizam, who had knelt beside him, what had been the object of his secret petition: "That your arms may be crowned with victory," was the prudent, and most probably the sincere, answer of the minister. "For my part," replied the generous Malek, "I implored the Lord of Hosts that he would take from me my life and crown, if my brother be more worthy than myself to reign over the Moslems." The favourable judgment of heaven was ratified by the caliph; and for the first time, the sacred title of Commander of the Faithful was communicated to a Barbarian. But this Barbarian, by his personal merit, and the extent of his empire, was the greatest prince of his age.^[1]

Revolt in Anatolia

Suleyman revolted against Malik Shah I and proclaimed himself the Sultan of Rûm, establishing his capital at Nicaea. Suleyman expanded his realm but was killed near Antioch in 1086 by Tutush I, the Seljuq ruler of Syria. Suleyman's son, Kilij Arslan I, was captured and taken as a hostage by Malik Shah I to Isfahan. It is uncertain whether Tutush killed Suleyman out of loyalty to Malik Shah I or simply for personal gain.

State organization

The principal post in the organization was that of the vizier Nizam al-Mulk who served both him and his father and achieved a near mythic stature in contemporary Muslim histories.

He moved the capital from Rey to Isfahan.

Legacy

After his death in 1092, the Seljuq empire dissolved into smaller, warring states, as Malik Shah's brother and four sons quarreled over the apportioning of the empire between themselves. Kilij Arslan I reestablished the Sultanate of Rûm in Anatolia, and Tutush I established himself in Syria. In Persia, Malik Shah was succeeded by his son Mahmud I whose reign was contested by his other three brothers: Barkiyaruq in Iraq, Mehmed I in Baghdad, and Ahmed Sanjar in Khorasan.

The Jalali calendar, named after this first Shah, which is in continued use, in Iran, Afghanistan and among the Kurds was established during Malik Shah's regime.^{[citation needed]}

The disunity within the Seljuq lands contributed to the success of the First Crusade.

References

1. ^ Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, New York: The Modern Library, n.d. v. 3, p. 406.

Preceded by Alp Arslan

Sultan of Great Seljuq 1072–1092

Succeeded by Mahmud I of Great Seljuq

Persondata
Name	Malik-Shah I
Alternative names
Short description	Seljuq sultan from 1072 to 1092
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	1092
Place of death

This biography of a member of a Middle Eastern royal house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Seljuk rulers Monarchs of Persia 1092 deaths Great Seljuq Empire Middle Eastern royalty stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую Malek Shakuhi Malekabad, Razavi Khorasan Look at other dictionaries: Malik Shah — (Persian: ملكشاه), also transliterated as Malek Shah, Malikshah or Melikshah, may refer to: Malik Shah I (d. 1092), sultan of Great Seljuq Malik Shah II, grandson of Malik Shah I, sultan of Great Seljuq Malik Shah III, sultan of Great Seljuq… …   Wikipedia Malik Shah — Malik Chah Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Malik Châh, Malik Shâh, Malikshâh est le titre de plusieurs souverains d origine turque. C est l assemblage de deux mots signifiants tous les… …   Wikipédia en Français Malik Shâh — Malik Chah Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Malik Châh, Malik Shâh, Malikshâh est le titre de plusieurs souverains d origine turque. C est l assemblage de deux mots signifiants tous les… …   Wikipédia en Français MALIK SHAH — MALIK SH H (1055 1092) sultan seldjoukide (1072 1092) Fils et successeur du sultan saldj kide Alp Arsl n, Malik sh h a régné à partir de 1072 et a bénéficié de l’appui du tout puissant vizir Niz m al Mulk. Bien que la victoire remportée en 1701… …   Encyclopédie Universelle Malik Shah I — Jalāl al Dawlah Mālikshāh or simply Malik Shah (Persian: fa. ملكشاه, Turkish: Melikşah ) (died 1092) was the Seljuk sultan from 1072 to 1092. He drove the Byzantine Empire out of most of Anatolia following their defeat by his father Alp Arslan at …   Wikipedia Malik Shah I — El imperio selyúcida‎ en 1092 Yalāl …   Wikipedia Español Malik-Shāh — ▪ Seljuq sultan born Aug. 6/16, 1055 died , November 1092, Baghdad [Iraq]       third and most famous of the Seljuq sultans.       Malik Shāh succeeded his father, Alp Arslan, in 1072 under the tutelage of the great vizier Niẓām al Mulk, who was… …   Universalium Malik-Shah II — Mu izz ad Din Malik Shah II (b.? d.?) Was Seljuq Sultan in Baghdad during 1105. He was the grandson of Malik Shah I, and was theoretically the head of the dynasty, although his relative Ahmed Sanjar in Khorasan probably held more effective power …   Wikipedia Malik Shah I — Yalal ad Din Malik Shah o Malik Shah I: sultán selchuco (1055 1092). Como otros personajes del mundo islámico medieval, ha pasado a la historia con un sobrenombre. En este caso, las dos palabras que lo componen significan rey , la primera en… …   Enciclopedia Universal Malik Shah II. — Mu izz ad Din Malik Shah II. war im Jahr 1105 Sultan der Seldschuken. Er war ein Enkelsohn von Sultan Malik Schah I. Obgleich er der Kopf der Dynastie war, hatte Maliks Sohn Ahmad Sanjar mehr Macht. Vorgänger Barkiyaruk Sultan der Großseldschuken …   Deutsch Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”