The Turkish emirs that had organised raids towards
the central regions of Anatolia upon the order of sultan Alp Arslan pursuant to Manzikert
war continued to fulfil their duties in the period of Sultan Melikshah. The Turkish emirs
got the benefit from the civil turmoils in the Byzantine and expanded their operational
fields towards Izmit. Meanwhile, Kutalmisogullari principality tried to find the proper
living conditions for them in the environs of Birecik and Urfa in the south of Anatolia.
Artuk Bey was called back by Sultan Melikshah. This situation gave them hope for the
establishment of an absolute domination over the other Turkmen groups due to their
distinguished lineage. As a matter of fact, their hopes did not fall short, and they found
an operational field within the environs of the Byzantine borders in Anatolia that was
suitable for them. Their purpose was to establish a state just like his cousins. Sultan
Melikshah set in motion in order to establish dominion upon this new development in
Anatolia just in time like he did in Syria and he sent Emir Porsuk to this region. This emir killed Kutalmis-son Kahsur
in the war, and he returned empty-handed without any specific results. Pursuant to the
murder of his brother, it has been observed that Kutalmis' son Suleymanshah had gained a
powerful position. As a matter of fact, Suleymanshah had gotten the benefit from the
interregnum turmoils for the throne in the Byzantine and he captured the castles in and
within the environs of Iznik. Therefore, he laid the foundation for Turkey Seljuk
Sultanate (1075-1080). Suleymanshah had had conquests in the eastern regions as well as in
the western regions and then, he captured the Antioch that was under the dominion of the
Armenian Philaretos (1084-85). He expanded his operational fields extending from the
coasts of Marmara towards the Antioch. This expansion led to the inevitable struggles with
the Great Seljuks that would take place in the near future. As a matter of fact, when he
besieged Aleppo, Melik Tutus set in motion together with Artuk Bey. In the war that
occurred within the surroundings of Aleppo, Suleymanshah was defeated and lost the war
(4th June 1086).
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