ABBASID-SELJUK RELATIONS DURING THE PERIOD OF ABBASID KHALIFAH AL-MUQTADI BI-AMR ALLAH

Abstract

Seljuk-Abbasid relations had gained an important level with the invitation of Tughril Beg to Baghdad. It would be more appropriate to consider the existing relationship between these two states in a political and religious way. Seljuk sultans intended to use the religious power of the caliph to make their position and reign stronger. On the other hand, Abbasid caliphs, were trying to be close the sultans to eliminate possible threats which may approach to them. Parallel to these developments, Abbasid-Seljuk rapprochement took place and they took this rapprochement to a further stage by making marriages between each other. However, this rapprochement with marriages gave them the opportunity to interfere in each other's internal affairs. It is obvious that Abbasid-Seljuk relations have reached a much more advanced level during the caliph al-Muqtadi. As a matter of fact, when Sultan Malikshah passed away, many meetings were held between Tarkan Khatun and the caliph al-Muqtadi and he had to obtain approval from the caliph in order to make Tarkan Khatun?s son Mahmud to become Sultan. These developments more or less give a clear understanding of Abbasid-Seljuk relations during the caliph al-Muqtadi period.