Here’s some information on the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum I compiled from Wikipedia and various other internet sources:
Seljuk Sultanate of RumReligion:
Sunni MuslimCapital:
Konya (
Though Konya was indeed the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate for the most part during 1097 to 1243, it was actually under crusader control for fifteen years from 1190-1205 after being captured by Fredrick Barbarossa. Ergo, in 1200 Konya was Not under Seljuk control. If total historical accuracy is required then Konya must be represented under Frankish crusader control, though its city garrison would be very small.) (Issue resolved, see three posts below) (Konya, formerly known as Iconium, is surrounded by a fertile plains and is very rich in agricultural resources.)
Important works: 1-
Caravanserai (facilitated flow of goods from Iran to ports in Central Asia) 2- Medrasas (schools and theological seminaries) 3- Mosques 4- Medical centers.
Trade Agreement: with Genoa
Sultan:
Suleiman II (1196-1204) (aka Rukn ad-Din Suleiman Shah) (Historical notes: Successful in battles against the Byzantines but routed by Georgians in 1203)
Claimant:
Kaykhusraw I (aka, Ghiyath ad-Din Kaykhusraw) (
Place of exile: Constantinople) (Backstory: Kaykhusraw I is the younger brother of Suleiman II. Upon the death of their father Kilij Arslan II, Kaykhusraw I, who was promised the sultanate by his father, fought with his brothers for control of the Sultanate and succeeded in ruling as Sultan from 1192-1196 until he was overthrown and banished by his brother Suleiman II. He later succeeds in retaking the sultanate after returning from exile in Constantinople and becomes Sultan again from 1205-1211) (Other note about Kaykhusraw: During his exile, he met and married the daughter of Manuel Maurozomes who is the son of an illegitimate daughter of Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. Kaykhusraw’s son from that marriage, Kayqubad I, becomes Seljuk Sultan in 1220. Kaykhusraw I died in single combat against the Emperor of Nicaea.)
Lords: (Backstory: In 1186 the aging Seljuk Sultan Kilij Arslan II divided the realm among his ten sons, brother, and nephew.) (malik means king in Arabic and is the title the Seljuk rulers had rather than lord.)
Rukn ad-Din Suleiman Shah who later become Sultan Suleiman II (malik of Tokat)
Kutb ad-Din Malik-Shah (malik of Sivas and Aksaray)
Kaiser Shah (malik of Malatya)
Muhyi ad-Din Mas’ud (malik of Ankara)
Mughith Ad-Din Toghril (malik of Elbistan and later malik of Erzurum)
Nasir Ad-Din Berkyaruqshah (malik of Niksar)
Sancarshah (malik of Eregli)
Arslan Shah (malik of Nigde)
Nizam ad-Din Argunshah (malik of Amasya)
Nur ad-Din Sultanshah (malik of Kayseri)
Description of Seljuk Rule: “Seljuk rule was tolerant of race, religion and gender. Churches and synagogues flourished, and some of the finest examples of Seljuk architecture, including huge mosques, theological seminaries, hospitals and caravanserais, were built on the orders of empresses and princesses.”
Economy of Seljuk Turkey:
“The economic system of the Seljuk Turks was
very advanced and essentially based on farming and metal.
Coinage jump started this economic revolution and became an extremely large part of the Seljuk economy. The Seljuk Turks created large coins out of copper and other precious metals between the 10th and 13th centuries. While many other civilizations were still using the Barter system, the economically advanced Turks were trading these coins for food, animals, and other industrial goods.
Because of the rich land, agriculture became very important to the economy of the Seljuk's. The
main crops being produced were grain, cotton, and wheat. These were all very beneficial because they supplied the most important necessity, substantial food.
In addition to agriculture, domesticated animals were a big source of food and money for the Seljuk Sultanate.
Animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, and horses were kept on large plots of land and were greatly important. These animals were used as food, trading items, and for transportation.
Perhaps
the most significant economic activity going on during the Seljuk Sultanate was trade. Trade made up for almost half of the total economy in the Middle East during that time period. Once the internal issues, such as food supplies, were dealt with, the Seljuk Turks began to trade with many other world powers for luxuries.
The main trade routes of the Seljuk Sultanate were around Europe, Asia, and India.
The Seljuk's traded a lot with China, receiving silk, spices, and rice for their valuable coins and wheat. Other regions gave them wax, precious gems, olive oil, sugar, wine, and salt. They also obtained fruits, dates, honey, wool for clothes, pearls, coral, iron, saffron, perfume, timber for building, and furs of all kinds. All of these goods helped the economy of the Seljuk Sultanate thrive. ”
Seljuk Armies: “T
he Seljuk sultans depended both on their tribal contingents, lightly armed mounted archers and, increasingly, on a multi-ethnic standing army, many of these troops being slave soldiers (ghulams), comprising Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Georgians, etc.; these professionals comprised heavily armed and armoured cavalrymen and infantrymen with swords and spears. For them a system of land grants grew up, on whose revenues the warriors, their mounts and weapons could be supported.”
Major cities: Konya, Kayseri, SivasRegions still not under Seljuk control in 1200 but captured soon thereafter: Attalia/Antalya (1207) Sinop (1214) Erzurum (1202)
"... [seljuk] seats of the court: Konya, Kayseri, Sivas" (
Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire, P.28)
[update]Seljuk exports: sugar from the refineries of Alanya
soap
thoroughbred horses
livestock
produce: fruits (notably apricots), grains, olives, wheat, salted fish
textiles and carpets
dried wheat
chemical and mineral compounds: alum, salt, borax, yellow arsenic orpiment ("King's yellow" arsenic trisulfide pigment). Alum, an essential mordant for dyeing wool, was a particularly important export
metals: silver, lead, tin, zinc, copper, iron
lapis lazuli
leather, wool, mohair
gum Arabica, pine resin, timber
slaves, taken captive in war or raid, usually supplied by the Kipchaks. Slaves appeared to be the most valuable commodity of the Black Sea route. The Seljuks were the middlemen in the trade of slaves. Circassians and Kipchaks of Southern Russia were sold in the great markets of the Crimea to the Egyptians who imported them to become Mamluk slave servants.
Mail, and documents of official and governmental nature were also transported along these routes.
spices, arms and cotton from Egypt
light-weight woolens, delicate silks, musk, ambergris and other perfumes from Baghdad
glass from Syria and Iraq
cobalt from Iran
fine silk, pearls, paper, sandalwood, gun powder, jade, lacquer and porcelain from China
gems from Central Asia
black pepper, gems, gold and silver ingots, pharmaceutical products and aromatics from India
thoroughbred horses from Georgia
slaves, Caspian caviar and furs from the Caucasus and Southern Russia.
Hope this helps
And great work to everyone in this mod, keep up the good work!
