Pursuant to the death of Berkyaruk, his son
Melikshah at a very young age was declared as sultan in Baghdad and Emir Ayaz became his
"Tutor". Muhammed Tapar immediately advanced towards Baghdad and seized the
sultanate of Seljuk State without any pains (1105). Before long, another member of the
dynasty, Bori-Bas' son, Mengu-Bars attempted to get involved within the case for sultanate
with the sons of Tekis. However, Muhammed Tapar suppressed this rebellion and arrested
Mengu-Bars and Tekis' sons in the castle of Isfahan. Emir Cavli Sakavu who independently
dominated the regions of Fars and Huzistan expressed his homage to Sultan Muhammed Tapar.
Sultan was pleased from this attitude and he appointed him with the administration of the
region of Egypt (September-October 1106). However, the ruler of Mosul, Cokurmus was not
contented with this assignation and he wanted to oppose to this appointment but he was
killed by Cavli. The celebrities of Mosul enthroned his son, Zengi who was at a young age
to his place. Furthermore, they sent information to Kilic Arslan I who was the ruler of
Turkey Seljuk State and they declared that they would deliver Mosul to him. As a result,
Cavli and Sultan Kilic Arslan fought on the banks of the Habur River for the domination in
the city of Mosul. Kilic Arslan was defeated in this war and he was drowned in the river
of Habur (3rd June 1107). Emir Cavlu captured Mosul and caught Kilic Arslan's son,
Sahin-shah and he sent him to Sultan Muhammed. Afterwards, Emir Mevdud was appointed
instead of Cavli who disobeyed. Cavli who begged pardon from the Sultan was granted with
the governorship of Fars (1108-9).
Emir Mevdud was
assigned with the task of fighting with the Crusades. Sultan Muhammed Tapar had written
letters to Emir Mevdud and Emir Sokmen el-Kutbi in order to encourage them to declare holy
war against the Crusades (1109-10). These two emirs united with Necm el-Din Ilgazi from
Artuklular principality and they besieged Urfa (May 1110). The blockade that lasted for
two months did not yield any results. On the other hand, the Crusades attacked severely to
the places under the dominion of the Muslims that were located on the coasts of Syria.
Upon these attacks, Sultan Muhammed Tapar gave orders to Mevdud for the reorganisation of
a military expedition. Emir Mevdud united with the other Seljuk emirs within the
surroundings and composed a great army and besieged Tel-Basir (1111). In the following
year, we have observed that Mevdud had besieged Urfa again. The king of Crusades in
Jerusalem set in motion against Tugtegin who was the tutor of the Damascus in the year of
1113. Tugtegin provided help from the Emir Mevdud and Artuklu Ayaz. This united Turkish
force defeated the army of the king of the Jerusalem near Taberiyye in a crushing manner
(28th June 1113).
Then, Emir Mevdud
returned to the Damascus together with Tugtegin. While he was getting out of the prayers
of Friday that were performed in he Great Mosque of tis city, he was killed by a bouncer
of Batini sect (10th October 1113). His death was a terrible loss for Seljuk State in the
course of the struggles with the Crusades. Sultan Muhammed Tapar assigned Aksungur
el-Borsuki with the tasks of the administration of Mosul and the fight with the Crusades.
Due to the lack of harmony between the emirs, he was defeated against the Crusades (1114).
Instead of Aksungur, Borsuk's son, Borsuk who was the governor of Hamedan was assigned
(1115). At the same time, Tugtegin collaborated with the Ilgazi Crusades. The Seljuk army
in the command of Borsuk was defeated by the Crusades in Tel-Danis. This expedition that
ended with defeat was the last effort of Sultan Muhammed Tapar that was oriented towards
the intervention to Syria. When the Crusade States gained power, Tugtegin got awakened
although it was too late. He preferred to declare his submission to Sultan Muhammed again
and make an agreement. Sultan had pardoned this emir, and entitled him with the right of
management of Syria (1116).
The Georgians
benefited from the struggle of sultanate in the period of interregnum among the members of
Seljuk dynasty. Therefore, they attempted to get involved in some invasions. The Georgians
established an army that was composed of Kipchak people who constituted a Turkish tribe.
This Georgian-Kipchak army attacked to Gence, but they were repulsed by the Seljuk forces
(1109-10).I. Seyfü'd-Devle Sadaka from Mezyedi people who was the Emir of Hille had taken
side with the Muhammed Tapar in the course of the struggles for the throne between
Muhammed Tapar and Berkyaruk. Getting the advantage of this struggle, he established
dominion on the most significant sections of Iraq. Furthermore, Sadaka protected those who
ran away from the Sultan and who fell from favour. As a result, the two sides fought in
the marshes of Za'faraniyya. Sultan Muhammed has an insufficient force with him that was
mostly composed of brigades of palace. But despite this lack, he was able to defeat the
army of Sadaka that was composed of twenty thousands of people. The brigades of the palace
and the Turkish soldiers had played an important role in the victory of the Seljuk State.
Sadaka was also killed in this war (March 1108).
|
