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The first Turkish raids towards Anatolia had been started upon
the desire of Turkmens to settle in this region as a homeland. Furthermore, another reason
for these holy wars was that the sultans wanted to transfer these Turkmens to Anatolia in
order to protect them since the Muslim people who lived together with them were
complaining about them pursuant to the foundation of the Seljuk State.
The Turkish raids towards Anatolia
were initiated with the famous geographic expedition of Cagri Bey. Afterwards, the raids
under the control of Turkmen leaders that did not want to be subject to the Seljuk State
expanded towards the Southeastern Anatolian region. Mervani and Ukayli people who lived in
and within the environs of these regions and Celalu'd-Devle who was the ruler of Buveyhi
in Iraq complained about these raids to Sultan. Tugrul Bey who had heard of this event
sent instructions to these Turkmens stating that they should give up making raids to these
Islam countries, they should return to Azerbaijan and get in the service of the emirs who
would organise raids to Byzantine. As a result, Turkmens had to obey and be in the service
of the Seljuk State and they followed the instructions of Tugrul Bey. Accordingly, they
participated in nearly all these raids carried out towards the lands of Byzantine in
Anatolia.
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