🐎 Turks in Anatolia (Turkish States before the Ottomans)

Which Turkish states and principalities before the Ottomans played a role in making Anatolia a permanent Turkish homeland? When did the first major waves of Turkish migration to Anatolia occur, and how was the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum established after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071? What lasting contributions did the Seljuks of Rum make in the fields of construction, science, and the fight against the Crusaders?

🐎 TURKS IN ANATOLIA (TURKISH STATES BEFORE THE OTTOMANS)

Anatolia became the final and permanent geography that the Turks made their homeland, resulting from the great migration waves starting from Central Asia. The states and principalities established in Anatolia before the Ottoman Empire played a fundamental role in the Turkification and Islamization of these lands.

First Entry and Settlement in Anatolia

• The Great Seljuk Empire: In the 11th century, Turkish incursions intensified into Anatolia, which was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. With the weakening of Byzantine resistance after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the gates of Anatolia were opened to the Turks.
• The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum: The first centralized Turkish state established in Anatolia (with the capital initially in Nicaea/Iznik, then Konya) immediately after the Victory of Manzikert by Süleyman Shah, son of Kutalmış. This state permanently shaped the political and cultural structure of Anatolia.

Significance of the Seljuks of Rum

• Construction and Settlement (İmar and İskân): The Seljuks built cities, caravanserais, madrasas (schools), mosques, and *şifahane* (hospitals) in Anatolia, supporting trade, education, and security. These structures formed the architectural identity of Anatolia.
• Culture and Science: Great thinkers and scientists such as Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi lived during this period, and Konya became an important center of science and culture.
• Struggle against the Crusaders: The Seljuks of Rum largely halted the advance of the Christian West by mounting a successful defense against the Crusades.

The Era of Anatolian Principalities (Beyliks)

Following the weakening of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in the 13th century due to the Mongol invasion and internal turmoil, many small Turkish principalities (Beyliks) (Karamanids, Germiyanids, Aydinids, and the Ottomans) were established in Anatolia. This era of principalities set the stage for the establishment and rise of the Ottoman Empire.