Seljuk Turks

The Seljuks (Seldjuq) were a major branch of the Oghuz (or Ğuz) Turks that lived in Central Asia in the 9th to 13th century. The Seljuks migrated into western Asia in the 10th century while fighting with various tribes on their way. They accepted Sunni Islam and founded dynasties in Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia. The Seljuk Empire's lands covered approximately today's Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, all of the Middle East and a part of the Arabian peninsula. An Oghuz bey (chief) called Seljuk (Seldjuq) was the founder of the dynasty. His son led the Seljuks during the migration and his grandson, Toğrül (Tughril), conquered Persia and occupied Baghdad. He died in 1063 in favour of his nephew (the great-grandson of Seljuk), Alp Arslan, who invaded Anatolia at the Battle of Manzikert in the 1070s.
Seljuk Turks can be regarded as the ancestors of Western Turks (today's Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan). They and their descendants (i.e., the Ottoman Empire) played a major role in medieval times by setting a barrier against the Mongol onslaught, defending the Islamic world against Crusaders and bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire. The fact that they embraced Sunni Islam and defended it with an irresistible power is one of the reasons why this branch is the major and most populous division of Islam.

The Seljuk dynasty collapsed tn the middle of the 13th century when the Seljuks of Anatolia was divided in three emirates; the ones of Izz ad-Din Kay-Kaus II (1246-60), Rukn ad-Din Qïlïch Arslan IV (1248-65), and Ala ad-Din Kay-Qubadh II (1249-57). When the mongols raided Anatolia in the 1260s the emirates fell into chaos and was divided into smaller areas ruled by beys (chiefs).
Seljuk Great Sultans, 1038-1157
Tughril Beg 1037-1063
Alp Arslan 1063-1072
Malik Shah I 1072-1092
Mahmud I 1092-1094
Barkiyarok 1094-1105
Malik Shah II 1105
Mohammed I 1105-1118
Ahmad Sanjar 1118-1157

Seljuk Sultans of Khorasan, 1097-1157
Ahmad Sanjar 1097-1157

Seljuk Sultans of Iraq and Western Iran, 1118-1194
Mahmud II 1118-1131
Dawud 1131-1132
Tughril II 1132-1134
Mas'ud 1134-1152
Malik Shah III 1152-1153
Mohammed II 1153-1160
Sulaiman Shah 1160-1161
Arslan Shah 1161-1176
Tughril III 1176-1194

Seljuk Sultans of Rum (Anatolia), 1077-1307
Suleiman ibn Kutalmish 1077-1086
Kilij Arslan I 1092-1107
Malik Shah I 1107-1116
Mas'ud 1116-1156
Kilij Arslan II 1156-1192
Kay Khosru I 1192-1196
Suleiman II 1196-1204
Kilij Arslan III 1204-1205
Kay Khosru I (2nd time) 1205-1210
Kay Kaus I 1210-1220
Kay Kobadh I 1220-1237
Kay Khosru II 1237-1246
Izz ad-Din Kay Kaus II 1246-1257
Rukn ad-Din Qïlïch Arslan IV 1248-1265
Ala ad-Din Kay Kobadh II 1249-1257
Ala ad-Din Kay Khosru II (2nd time) 1257-1259
Kay Khosru III 1265-1282
Mas'ud II 1282-1284
Kay Kobadh III 1284
Mas'ud II (2nd time) 1284-1293
Kay Kobadh III (2nd time) 1293-1294
Mas'ud II (3rd time) 1294-1301
Kay Kobadh III (3rd time) 1301-1303
Mas'ud II (4th time) 1303-1307
Mas'ud III 1307

Seljuk Kings of Syria
Tutush 1085-1095
Kings of Damascus
Duqaq 1095-1104
Kings of Aleppo
Ridwan 1095-1113
Alp Arslan 1113-1114
Sultan Shah 1114-1117

Seljuk Rulers of Kerman, 1041-1187
Qawurd 1041-1073
Kerman Shah 1073-1074
Sultan Shah 1074-1075
Husain Omar 1075-1084
Turan Shah I 1084-1096
Iran Shah 1096-1101
Arslan Shah I 1101-1142
Mohammed I 1142-1156
Tughril Shah 1156-1169
Bahram Shah 1169-1174
Arslan Shah II 1174-1176
Turan Shah II 1176-1183
Mohammed II 1183-1187