Iran & Central AsiaAsiaMajor empire

Great Seljuk Empire

1037 – 1194 CE · about 157 years

The Seljuks were Oghuz Turks who conquered Iran and Iraq, entered Baghdad in 1055 and ruled as sultans under the Abbasid caliph. Their victory over Byzantium at Manzikert in 1071 opened Anatolia to Turkish settlement. Their vizier Nizam al-Mulk founded the Nizamiyya colleges.

Key facts

Dates	1037 – 1194 CE
Region	Iran & Central Asia
Continent	Asia
Capitals	Nishapur, Rey, Isfahan, Merv
Founder	Tughril
Religion(s)	Sunni Islam
Peak extent	≈ 3.9 million km² (c. 1080 CE) – source

Before & after

Preceded by

Ghaznavid Empire Buyid dynasty Fatimid Caliphate Ziyarid dynasty Marwanids (Diyar Bakr) Uqaylid dynasty Kakuyids Rawwadid dynasty Oghuz Yabgu State

Followed by

Sultanate of Rum Khwarazmian Empire Ayyubid Sultanate Qara Khitai Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia Zengid dynasty Principality of Antioch Artuqids Eldiguzids

In the Islamic timeline

Abbasid Caliphate — Seljuk sultans ruled in the name of the Abbasid caliph.
Ash'ari School of Theology — The Nizamiyya colleges spread Shafi'i law and Ash'ari theology.

Sources

Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.