SELJUK BEY
Seljuk Bey, who gave his name to Seljukian state, is the son of Dukak Subaşı, one of the commanders of Oghuz State dominating over the region between Aral lake and Caspian sea.
Seljuk Bey, who was born in early Xth century and was only 17-18 when Dukak Bey died, took service under Yabgu and grew up there. Then he became chief inspector of Yabgu Oghuzes.
Seljuk Bey's growing credit reaching higher positions despite his young age, disturbed Yabgu of Oghuz state and his wife. Yabgu and Seljuk Bey being on strained terms Seljuk Bey migrated toward Maveraunnehir together with crowded Oghuz masses under his command. They took many horses, camels, sheep and cattle with them. The real reason for this migration was the scantiness of place and inadequate pasture. Seljuk Bey went to another Oghuz city near Seyhun river in years following 960. The Muslim Turks who had immigrated from Maveraunnehir were there. Seljuk Bey's going to Cend, which forms a border between Turks and other Islam countries, can be considered as the beginning of an important age in history.
Seljuk bey, assessing the political and social conditions of this new region, converted into Islam together with Oghuzes together with himself. Thus, this Turkish mass, also called Turkmens, gained a new identity in political and social aspect. Now he was a "ghazi ready for jihad" for Islam. As a matter of fact, when the officials of Oghuz Yabgu came Cend city to collect annual taxes, he sent them back saying "I do not pay to unbelievers". Indeed, Oghuz Yabgu had not accepted Islam yet.
Then he began to fight to spread Islam. He obtained two important benefits from his conflicts against Oghuz state. The first benefit was that he made Muslim Oghuzes join him and took part in wars. The second profit was that he proclaimed independence by breaking the influence of Yabgu in Cend city and its vicinity. Neighboring states also recognized his independence. Now, Seljukian State was established. It was only a small state yet, and could not be considered totally independent.
In the meantime, Turkish Karahanli State and Persian Samani State were in war. Samani State, demanded assistance from Seljuk Bey. Seljuk Bey both needed new territories and wanted Great Turkish Sultanate. Samani state defeated Karahanlis thanks to his forces he sent under command of his son Arslan Bey. As a consequence, a region between Buhara and Semerkant near Nur town, was given to Seljukians as native country in return.
Now Seljukian State was between two major states Karahanli Turkish State on one side and Iran Samani State on the other side, and had to keep its existence between them. Seljukians balanced their relations with the two states taking advantage of all possibilities.
Karahanlis seized Buhara, the capital city of Samanis in 992. Samanis could dominate on the region again only with assistance of Oghuz State. But now chaos and discomfort in Samani State were growing. Ghazni Turkish State wanted to take advantage of this. Because, new Ghazni Turkish State could not save its itself from being dependant on Samanis yet, and sought possibilities to do so.
It was Samani State's fate to be eliminated between strong Karahanli State holding Great Khan Position and strengthening Seljukian and Ghazni Turkish states. Turkish states also fought wars among themselves for Great Khan Position and made themselves accepted as superior gradually.
When Seljuk Bey, who set the foundations of Great Seljukian State together with his sons Mikail, Arslan, İsrafil, Yusuf and Musa, died in 1009 about his 100, he had organized his state rather well.