On the other hand, Sultan Mesud had finally perceived
that Seljuk people posed a dangerous threat for his state and he organised an expedition
upon them. Finally, Sultan Mes'ud could defeat the Seljuk people in the first two wars
(1039). However, this was not an absolute victory for the Gazneli State that could be
considered enough to establish dominion on all of Seljuk people. Therefore, they proposed
the state of peace to Seljuks. According to this proposal accepted by Seljuks; the Gazneli
army would penetrate into Heart, the cities and borders of Nesa, Baverd, and Fevare would
be surrendered to Seljuks and Seljuks would evacuate the cities of Nisabur, Serahs and
Merv that they had invaded.
The reason for the acceptation of this state of peace
by the two parties was to rest and to prepare for another war. Seljuk people violated the
conditions of the state and started their raids towards the lands of the Gazneli State.
Sultan Mes'ud set in motion towards Seljuks again. There were various wars that continued
between Seljuks and Gazneli State, but the most significant and the greatest one took
place near the castle of Dandanakan within the environs of Merv. Seljuk people achieved a
firm result against the army under the command of Sultan Mes'ud and they defeated the
Gazneli State in a crushing manner (24th May 1040). Pursuant to the victory of Dandanakan
War, Seljuk Beys gathered all together and declared that Tugrul Bey was the "Emir of
Khorasan". From that date on, they established a fully independent state in Khorasan
and took the first step in the establishment of a great empire. Furthermore, as required
by the traditions of the period, they sent "fetih-name" (statement of conquest)
to the neighbouring rulers that expressed their victories.
Seljuk leaders convened in a
Council that gathered in the city of Merv in the same month and took some important
resolutions. According to a resolution that they had taken in this meeting, they declared
that they were submissive to the Abbasi Caliph Kaim bi-Emrillah and they would establish
justice in Khorasan. Afterwards, Seljuks shared the countries that they planned to capture
in accordance with the ancient Turkish traditions similarly. According to these shares,
Tugrul Bey would take Nisabur in his capacity as "sultan" and go to the west and
to Iraq. Cagri Bey would take the region between Ceyhun and Gazne providing the centre of
Merv in his capacity with the title as "melik" (ruler). Similarly, Musa Yabgu
would take Bust, Herat and the environs of Sistan. The princes pertaining to the same
dynasty were charged with the duty to capture one region per each. Seljuk State attempted
to organise their conquests based on this principle and they realised this plan swiftly.
Cagri Bey had had great
victories in the wars waged again Gazneli State and he repelled them from Khorasan. He
defeated one army of the Gazneli State and captured the city of Belh (the autumn of the
year 1040). They advanced towards Harezm together with Tugrul Bey and defeated Shah Melik
that was their old enemy. They took the revenge of the raid that they suffered in the past
and they subdued the Harezm country to Seljuk State (1043). Then, Cagri Bey maintained his
success through the help of his son, Alp Arslan and defeated the Karahanli State. He
concluded a successful agreement with the Karahanli State providing that the domination of
Seljuk State would be recognised in the regions that the Seljuks captured and the
Karahanli State would not attack to these regions (1050). Cagri Bey had also concluded an
agreement with Gazneli Sultan Ibrahim providing that Hindikus Mountains would be the
borders between the two states (1059). This agreement between the two states was valid and
effective for nearly a century. Cagri Bey who had played a significant role in the
foundation of Seljuk State died at the age of seventy in the city of Serahs (1060).
Musa Yabgu who was the
eldest member of his family invaded Herat pursuant to the Dandanakan War (1040). He
dominated in the region of Sistan and mostly resided in Heart. However, it has been
observed that he was not as successful as the other members of the dynasty. As a matter of
fact, he rebelled against the Sultan Alp Arslan in the year of 1064. As a result, he was
caught in the castle of Herat and brought to Alp Arslan and his political life ended
thereof.
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