Seljuqs-Uqaylid Relations in Muslim b. Kuraysh Period

The Uqaylids are an Arabian tribe that ruled Mosul and its surroundings between 990 and 1096. One of the important chiefs in the history of Uqaylids is Müslim b. Kuraysh. Müslim b. Kuraysh ruled the Ukaylids between 1061-1085. During this period, Muslim b. Kuraysh draws attention with his activities. Indeed, it is the brightest period of the Uqaylids. Shortly after his death, the Uqaylids lost their domination in the region. Muslim was subject to the Great Seljuq State Ruler Tugrul Beg in the first years of his administration. With the death of Tugrul Beg and the power struggle that started in the Seljuqs, Muslim began to expand his domination around Mosul. Meanwhile, Muslim won favor of Alp Arslan obeying him and marrying his sister. Thus, new regions were given to him as iqta‘ by the sultan. As a result, his effect in the region also strengthened legally. But the Battle of Manzikert negatively affected Alp Arslan’s favor on Muslim. Alp Arslan punished Muslim by taking back the regions that he had given him. The unexpected death of Alp Arslan and Malik Shah’s rule had a positive impact on Muslim b. Kuraysh. The support he gave to Malik Shah with his struggle against Kavurd and Nizam al-Mulk’s effect on Seljuqs seemed to play role in this. Thus, Muslim, who gained his status back, began to expand his area of domination to westwards. He conquered Aleppo, which had strategic features due to its location in the region. Tutush, who wanted to conquer Aleppo, blockade the city. But in the order of his brother Sultan Malik Shah, he lifted his blockade. Suleiman Shah, who established state in Anatolia at this time, conquered Adana and its surroundings that had borderline with the Muslim’s region. Then Suleiman Shah conquered Antakya in 1085. His conquest disturbed Muslim b. Kuraysh. Both statesmen were dependent to Sultan Malik Shah. But the aim of Muslim b. Kuraysh’s to establish an Arabic State caused the two statesmen to fight. Thus, in the struggle that started, Muslim lost his life in 1085.