Barkiyaruq

Barkiyaruq
Artwork of Barkiyaruq
Sultan of the Great Seljuq Empire
Reign	1092–1105
Predecessor	Mahmud I
Successor	Malik-Shah II
Born	1079/1080
Died	1105 (aged 25) Borujerd
Issue	Malik-Shah II
House	House of Seljuq
Father	Malik-Shah I
Religion	Sunni Islam

Abu al-Muzaffar Rukn ud-Din Barkyaruq ibn Malikshah (Persian: ابو المظفر رکن الدین رکن الدین برکیارق بن ملکشاه‎‎), better known as Barkyaruq. The Turkic word Berk Yaruq means (firm, unwavering light), was the sultan of the Great Seljuq empire from 1092 to 1105.

Barkiyaruq was born in 1079/1080, the oldest son of Malik Shah I and a Seljuq princess. He had five brothers; Mahmud I, Ahmed Sanjar, Mehmed I, Dawud, and Ahmad.

During his youth, the succession to the Seljuq sultanate was complicated by the death of two of his half-brothers: Dawud (died 1082) and Ahmad (died 1088), whom both were sons of the Kara-Khanid Princess Turkan Khatun, she also had a son named Mahmud (born 1087) which she wanted to succeed his father, while the vizier Nizam al-Mulk and most of the Seljuq army was in favor of Barkiyaruq. Turkan Khatun then allied with Taj al-Mulk Abu'l Ghana'im to try to remove Nizam from his post. Nizam was assassinated in 1092, which made Barkiyaruq lose a powerful supporter. Barkiyaruq's father eventually died some months later. Turkhan Khatun then took the opportunity of his death, and with the support of Taj al-Mulk, put her 4 year old son, Mahmud I, on the throne, while Barkiyaruq was proclaimed as Sultan of the Seljuq Empire at Ray by the faction of the late vizier Nizam al-Mulk.

However, Mahmud I was not the only Seljuq claimant to the throne, several other Seljuq princes such as Arslan-Argun, Mehmed I, and Tutush I, also claimed the throne. Taj al-Mulk was later assassinated by the ghulams of Nizam al-Mulk, while Turkhan Khatun and her son Mahmud I died in 1094. One year later, Barkiyaruq clashed with Tutush I at Ray, where Barkiyaruq managed to emerge victorious and kill Tutush I along with his supporter Ali ibn Faramurz.