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My next goal is to get the title of Shahanshah, mostly just for aesthetics since I'm not going for UHV.
[SoI] The Great Seljuk Empire
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My next goal is to get the title of Shahanshah, mostly just for aesthetics since I'm not going for UHV.
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Oh, no! I'm double posting again!
Chapter 21: The Battle of Van and the Fall of the Kingdom of Vaspurakan
1100 began in a ceasefire between the Seljuks and Armenians. King Smbat II converted to Sunni Islam, the religion of the Seljuks. He was named Sultan Sindbad the Armenian of Kars. Sindbad wished to make peace with his 'brothers in faith', but Malik Shah would hear none of it. However, Malik also did not want to anger Allah in capturing the city of Van, the last city of the Kingdom in which Sindbad ruled. However, the ceasefire was ended when rogue Seljuk cavalry attacked Armenian spearmen from across a river, and was subsequently defeated. Malik was furious to hear not just of rogue men, but also of the defeat. The Battle of Kars had left its mark on the Seljuk army, and the men were not fit to mobilize to Van. All except the men directly under the sultan himself.
Malik Shah and his men charged strait at Van from Kars in the north. Seljuks in the south, who were left over from the Battle of Dvin, had occupied an Armenian fort after the defeat at the river. Malik ordered an attack. That hour. If the attack on the archers that defended the northern wall was not done by sundown, Malik threatened to ride out there and personally strangle every one of the Armenian troops. Luckily, the attack was extremely successful when the Seljuks began raining fire on the archers, as if Allah himself favored the Seljuk men over the Armenians. Malik saw this as a sign, a sign that Van was destined to be under the rule of the Great Seljuk Empire. The last of the defenses of Van were Muslim horse archers to the south, who were already beginning skirmishes with Seljuk tribal cavalry. By the time the archers of the northern wall were obliterated, Malik had entered the city. The Muslim horse archers of the south continued the battle, however, and they blocked Malik's meeting with Sindbad. With one last push from the Seljuks to the south, the Armenians were cornered and Malik Shah was able to enter the palace of Sindbad. The Armenian ruler had fled, however, to Georgia the day before. There it is said he was executed for being a Muslim. The last of the Armenian troops were disbanded, and the city of Van was in Seljuk hands.
Chapter 21: The Battle of Van and the Fall of the Kingdom of Vaspurakan
1100 began in a ceasefire between the Seljuks and Armenians. King Smbat II converted to Sunni Islam, the religion of the Seljuks. He was named Sultan Sindbad the Armenian of Kars. Sindbad wished to make peace with his 'brothers in faith', but Malik Shah would hear none of it. However, Malik also did not want to anger Allah in capturing the city of Van, the last city of the Kingdom in which Sindbad ruled. However, the ceasefire was ended when rogue Seljuk cavalry attacked Armenian spearmen from across a river, and was subsequently defeated. Malik was furious to hear not just of rogue men, but also of the defeat. The Battle of Kars had left its mark on the Seljuk army, and the men were not fit to mobilize to Van. All except the men directly under the sultan himself.
Malik Shah and his men charged strait at Van from Kars in the north. Seljuks in the south, who were left over from the Battle of Dvin, had occupied an Armenian fort after the defeat at the river. Malik ordered an attack. That hour. If the attack on the archers that defended the northern wall was not done by sundown, Malik threatened to ride out there and personally strangle every one of the Armenian troops. Luckily, the attack was extremely successful when the Seljuks began raining fire on the archers, as if Allah himself favored the Seljuk men over the Armenians. Malik saw this as a sign, a sign that Van was destined to be under the rule of the Great Seljuk Empire. The last of the defenses of Van were Muslim horse archers to the south, who were already beginning skirmishes with Seljuk tribal cavalry. By the time the archers of the northern wall were obliterated, Malik had entered the city. The Muslim horse archers of the south continued the battle, however, and they blocked Malik's meeting with Sindbad. With one last push from the Seljuks to the south, the Armenians were cornered and Malik Shah was able to enter the palace of Sindbad. The Armenian ruler had fled, however, to Georgia the day before. There it is said he was executed for being a Muslim. The last of the Armenian troops were disbanded, and the city of Van was in Seljuk hands.
GreekAnalyzer
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Armenia is no more.
baseballpie
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Who's next?
GreekAnalyzer
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Even though I'm Christian, I look on the Crusades with horror and regret.
Also, congrats on getting into Medical Science!
Also, congrats on getting into Medical Science!
Even though I'm Christian, I look on the Crusades with horror and regret.
Also, congrats on getting into Medical Science!
ChineseWarlord
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Subbing now. Good story!
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Sorry if I got you all excited with my posting here and it not being an update, but I need to tell you guys that there probably (unless I get time tomorrow) won't be another update until Sunday. Can't do it on Saturday since my marching band is marching in a giant parade downtown and it's gonna take a while. Luckily, a cold front is passing through so it won't be crazy hot. I actually had a reason for posting, but then I forgot... Oh yeah! I also want to warn you guys that the coming updates may not be very exciting. My army needs to rest for a while and I'm not really in the 'conquest spirit' as of late.
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Oh, look at that! I found time today. Who would'a thunk it?
Chapter 22: The Travels of Tahir ibn Husayn
Tahir ibn Husayn, a man of Wasit, and his travels from Herat to Dvin in the years from 1091 to 1106.* Tahir, last mentioned in chapter 16 of this history, began his travels in 1091 at the age of 34. He was blinded in his left eye by a group of Shia extremists, and was later made governor of Herat. Tahir was originally from Wasit in Mesopotamia, where he was born. Thus, he had some travel experience when Sultan Malik Shah of the Great Seljuk Empire ordered him to Rayy. He began his journey northward, toward the city of Marv, which was told in legend as the great city of crossroads, where the west met the east. There, he planned to travel westward on the Silk Road toward Rayy. As he traveled to Marv, he met diplomats of the old Samanid Empire, which the Seljuks long thought extinct. Tahir acted as a diplomat for the Seljuk Empire, and soon the representatives of nations were talking as old friends would. They talked of their own individual journeys, and of their own nations, and even of their own personal lives at home. Tahir learned much from the diplomats, including the internal strife of the Samanid Empire. The Samanids were a people descended from the Abbasid Caliphate, although not really descended as much as 'were distant cousins of'. The diplomat was saddened to hear of the destruction of the caliphate long ago, for he thought that the Abbasids still stood, stronger than ever, in Mesopotamia. Thus was Samanid tradition, overestimating the capabilities of the caliphates of old. However, the diplomats told Tahir of a Seljuk-descended shahdom, Khwarezm, which was causing trouble in the Samanid heartland. After months of traveling through the desert, Tahir and the diplomats of the Samanid Empire reached Marv.
From Marv, Tahir traveled west along the Silk Road. In the desert, Tahir was ambushed by bandits. These bandits were of Indian descent, from the east. They had long inhabited the Silk Road, and often stole the goods of travelers to sell in Marv and Rayy. They were known as the Orange Bandits, for their rich orange sleeves and gloves. Their 'lair' was located about midway between Marv and Rayy, and that was where their took Tahir. The lair was simply a cave built on the side of a mountain, where bandits alongside the bats could rest and hoard their loot. Tahir was questioned, and was soon released because the Orange Bandits could find no riches upon him nor could they get any good reason out of the man for his traveling. Unluckily for them, Tahir had seen the lair and, according to legend, returned to it to personally kill the Orange Bandits years later. By 1100, Tahir had reached Rayy. This was nine years after his departure from Herat. There he was told of the conquest of Armenia, and was told to travel to Dvin to aid in the war effort. Tahir traveled through the land northwest of the main empire, which took many more years than it needed to for Tahir did not know the land, nor was there a road. In 1105, a large company of tribal cavalry, veterans of the Battle of Van, met Tahir on a mountain pass. The company guided Tahir to Dvin, where he was acquainted with Malik Shah. Tahir was declared general of the men that found him, and soon was renowned as the greatest general of Malik Shah's reign. Thus were the travels of Tahir ibn Husayn.
*It is believed Ebecen inserted this chapter into The Great Seljuk Empire years after the original was written. It is believed that he wrote a series of 'traveling histories', before he incorporated them into his older, larger, greater works of literature. This also includes the coming chapter, "The Travels of Malik Ibn Dinar". Some theorize "Malik Ibn Dinar, the Merchant of Baghdad" was a traveling history, although scholars point out that it does not start with the same beginning, and also that there was no traveling actually done.
Chapter 22: The Travels of Tahir ibn Husayn
Tahir ibn Husayn, a man of Wasit, and his travels from Herat to Dvin in the years from 1091 to 1106.* Tahir, last mentioned in chapter 16 of this history, began his travels in 1091 at the age of 34. He was blinded in his left eye by a group of Shia extremists, and was later made governor of Herat. Tahir was originally from Wasit in Mesopotamia, where he was born. Thus, he had some travel experience when Sultan Malik Shah of the Great Seljuk Empire ordered him to Rayy. He began his journey northward, toward the city of Marv, which was told in legend as the great city of crossroads, where the west met the east. There, he planned to travel westward on the Silk Road toward Rayy. As he traveled to Marv, he met diplomats of the old Samanid Empire, which the Seljuks long thought extinct. Tahir acted as a diplomat for the Seljuk Empire, and soon the representatives of nations were talking as old friends would. They talked of their own individual journeys, and of their own nations, and even of their own personal lives at home. Tahir learned much from the diplomats, including the internal strife of the Samanid Empire. The Samanids were a people descended from the Abbasid Caliphate, although not really descended as much as 'were distant cousins of'. The diplomat was saddened to hear of the destruction of the caliphate long ago, for he thought that the Abbasids still stood, stronger than ever, in Mesopotamia. Thus was Samanid tradition, overestimating the capabilities of the caliphates of old. However, the diplomats told Tahir of a Seljuk-descended shahdom, Khwarezm, which was causing trouble in the Samanid heartland. After months of traveling through the desert, Tahir and the diplomats of the Samanid Empire reached Marv.
From Marv, Tahir traveled west along the Silk Road. In the desert, Tahir was ambushed by bandits. These bandits were of Indian descent, from the east. They had long inhabited the Silk Road, and often stole the goods of travelers to sell in Marv and Rayy. They were known as the Orange Bandits, for their rich orange sleeves and gloves. Their 'lair' was located about midway between Marv and Rayy, and that was where their took Tahir. The lair was simply a cave built on the side of a mountain, where bandits alongside the bats could rest and hoard their loot. Tahir was questioned, and was soon released because the Orange Bandits could find no riches upon him nor could they get any good reason out of the man for his traveling. Unluckily for them, Tahir had seen the lair and, according to legend, returned to it to personally kill the Orange Bandits years later. By 1100, Tahir had reached Rayy. This was nine years after his departure from Herat. There he was told of the conquest of Armenia, and was told to travel to Dvin to aid in the war effort. Tahir traveled through the land northwest of the main empire, which took many more years than it needed to for Tahir did not know the land, nor was there a road. In 1105, a large company of tribal cavalry, veterans of the Battle of Van, met Tahir on a mountain pass. The company guided Tahir to Dvin, where he was acquainted with Malik Shah. Tahir was declared general of the men that found him, and soon was renowned as the greatest general of Malik Shah's reign. Thus were the travels of Tahir ibn Husayn.
*It is believed Ebecen inserted this chapter into The Great Seljuk Empire years after the original was written. It is believed that he wrote a series of 'traveling histories', before he incorporated them into his older, larger, greater works of literature. This also includes the coming chapter, "The Travels of Malik Ibn Dinar". Some theorize "Malik Ibn Dinar, the Merchant of Baghdad" was a traveling history, although scholars point out that it does not start with the same beginning, and also that there was no traveling actually done.
constantinople
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Sorry I didn't comment earlier, slipped my mind.
Talk about a lot of XP.
Talk about a lot of XP.
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Sorry for the long wait - I had to get school stuff finished up. My new goal is to finish this by the end of summer!
Chapter 23: The War on the Caspian and the Battle of Baku
After the Seljuk-Armenian War, Malik Shah looked to gain influence on the Caspian Sea. The largest port on the Caspian was the city of Baku, the capital of the Shirvan Emirate. Even as the Seljuk-Armenian War was occurring, so did the Georgian Invasion of Shirvan. The Georgians, under their King David the Builder, invaded the Emirate with the entirety of the Georgian army. In eastern Shirvan, the city of Kabala was captured early and easily. However, Baku refused to fall before the Orthodox Christian Georgians. The city remained Shia Muslim, and the Caspian Sea remained under Shirvan control. However, now Malik Shah wanted Baku, and Baku he would get. The tribal cavalry of the Seljuks, under Malik Shah, Ubuz ibn Muhammad, and Tahir ibn Husayn rode northeastward, until they came to Georgian lands. Even though they shared a similar goal - the capture of Baku - the Georgians would not allow the Seljuks to enter, no matter how much Malik claimed to give Baku to Georgia at the end of the war. David would, however, withdraw troops from the Emirate of Shirvan (not the region of Shirvan, as Kabala was still being occupied) in order to prevent an escalation to war with the Great Seljuk Empire. Gladly, Malik rode through the unclaimed mountains of the Caucasus, toward the city of Baku to find the city well defended yet in ruin at a recent Georgian siege. The marksmen of the city would be too strong for a mere assault, however, and Malik devised a plan, although he didn't like it. Malik sent the newer, undisciplined troops in as a distraction as his troops snuck around the city. It was at this point that Malik first saw the Caspian Sea, and he knew he would have to dominate it. So when he heard the warhorn blow at the defeat of the distraction, Malik charged tenfold at the back of the marksmen defenders. Legend has it that Malik Shah himself drowned Shirvanshah Afridun in the Caspian Sea, thus making Afridun a martyr of the Shia faith. Afridun's son, Manuchehr III, ascended to the throne on the evening that Malik Shah entered the city. Meanwhile, outside the walls, the men under Ubuz ibn Muhammad were battling with the Javelinmen of Baku, that last defenders of Shirvan. Now, Manuchehr was the husband of David the Builder's daughter Tamar, and was now both a prince of Georgia and a ruler of Shirvan. It is said Malik Shah found Manuchehr in the palace's cellar the next morning, hiding from the Seljuk's wrath. However, Malik merely tied him up and brought him to Malik's son, Mahmud. Mahmud decided to send Manuchehr to Rayy to live his life out as a war prisoner of the Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire.
Chapter 23: The War on the Caspian and the Battle of Baku
After the Seljuk-Armenian War, Malik Shah looked to gain influence on the Caspian Sea. The largest port on the Caspian was the city of Baku, the capital of the Shirvan Emirate. Even as the Seljuk-Armenian War was occurring, so did the Georgian Invasion of Shirvan. The Georgians, under their King David the Builder, invaded the Emirate with the entirety of the Georgian army. In eastern Shirvan, the city of Kabala was captured early and easily. However, Baku refused to fall before the Orthodox Christian Georgians. The city remained Shia Muslim, and the Caspian Sea remained under Shirvan control. However, now Malik Shah wanted Baku, and Baku he would get. The tribal cavalry of the Seljuks, under Malik Shah, Ubuz ibn Muhammad, and Tahir ibn Husayn rode northeastward, until they came to Georgian lands. Even though they shared a similar goal - the capture of Baku - the Georgians would not allow the Seljuks to enter, no matter how much Malik claimed to give Baku to Georgia at the end of the war. David would, however, withdraw troops from the Emirate of Shirvan (not the region of Shirvan, as Kabala was still being occupied) in order to prevent an escalation to war with the Great Seljuk Empire. Gladly, Malik rode through the unclaimed mountains of the Caucasus, toward the city of Baku to find the city well defended yet in ruin at a recent Georgian siege. The marksmen of the city would be too strong for a mere assault, however, and Malik devised a plan, although he didn't like it. Malik sent the newer, undisciplined troops in as a distraction as his troops snuck around the city. It was at this point that Malik first saw the Caspian Sea, and he knew he would have to dominate it. So when he heard the warhorn blow at the defeat of the distraction, Malik charged tenfold at the back of the marksmen defenders. Legend has it that Malik Shah himself drowned Shirvanshah Afridun in the Caspian Sea, thus making Afridun a martyr of the Shia faith. Afridun's son, Manuchehr III, ascended to the throne on the evening that Malik Shah entered the city. Meanwhile, outside the walls, the men under Ubuz ibn Muhammad were battling with the Javelinmen of Baku, that last defenders of Shirvan. Now, Manuchehr was the husband of David the Builder's daughter Tamar, and was now both a prince of Georgia and a ruler of Shirvan. It is said Malik Shah found Manuchehr in the palace's cellar the next morning, hiding from the Seljuk's wrath. However, Malik merely tied him up and brought him to Malik's son, Mahmud. Mahmud decided to send Manuchehr to Rayy to live his life out as a war prisoner of the Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire.
constantinople
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You're getting pretty big.
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Chapter 24: The Succession of Malik Shah, the Banishment of Nur ad-Din, and the Death of Mahmud
After many years of Mahmud's quick rise of popularity among the Seljuks because of his mercy with Manuchehr, Malik Shah decided to step down. In 1114, at the age of 54, Malik Shah announced the coming coronation of Mahmud. Although, he legendarily said, "From here, the power of the Seljuk sultan will wane until the empire's fall."These ominous words loomed over Mahmud's head as he took the throne in Rayy. Once in power, Mahmud was paranoid of uprisings and coups, and would constantly keep a close guard around himself. Not even Malik himself was allowed to speak with the sultan alone. This paranoia led, ultimately, to the banishment of high positions in the palace, such as the High General. Most of the people from the positions Mahmud banished were willing to leave Rayy, as many saw quickly the sultan's corruption. The majority of them went to the city of Marv in Samanid lands. Nur ad-Din, who had been High General of the Seljuk Army since he was three years of age, refused the banishment. Mahmud had Nur ad-Din captured and he threatened either death or banishment. Nur ad-Din chose death, but Mahmud was still cursed with mercy. He would simply not kill his cousin (as Nur ad-Din's father had been Muhammad Khorasani, who was a husband to Eldem, who was the sister of Malik Shah and was the daughter of Alp Arslan), so he decided to send him on an utterly forced trip to northern Mesopotamia, the lands beyond Seljuk rule. There, Nur ad-Din declared himself Nur ad-Din Zengi, and became, in future years, emir of the Zengid Emirate. Meanwhile, Mahmud continued his trip to corruption. Now he put all evildoers to death, and his curse of mercy left him. His brothers Barkiyaruq, Mehmed, and Ahmad Sanjar gathered armies against him, and soon the palace of Rayy was burning. Barkiyaruq and Mehmed entered the palace with a few men while Ahmad stayed outside to command the revolt. Legend tells us of the events inside the palace. It is said Mehmed refused to go further from the courtyard and he turned back with the rest of the men while Barkiyaruq, always the most courageous of Malik Shah's sons, continued further into the palace. With his bow and his arrow, Barkiyaruq entered the throne room of Mahmud to find the sultan beheading his wife*. Barkiyaruq shot a single arrow and it hit the sultan's head, and death befell Mahmud. Barkiyaruq was barely able to escape the flames, however, and he was dealt several serious burns. Thus it was declared the future of the Seljuk royal line; first would be Barkiyaruq and his sons as Barkiyaruq was the boldest of the brothers. Next would be Mehmed and his sons, as Mehmed was willing to enter the palace but was unwilling to finish the job. Last would be Ahmad Sanjar and his sons, as Ahmad was unwilling to enter the palace in the first place.
*It is believed he killed his wife because she was supposedly working with the rebels.
After many years of Mahmud's quick rise of popularity among the Seljuks because of his mercy with Manuchehr, Malik Shah decided to step down. In 1114, at the age of 54, Malik Shah announced the coming coronation of Mahmud. Although, he legendarily said, "From here, the power of the Seljuk sultan will wane until the empire's fall."These ominous words loomed over Mahmud's head as he took the throne in Rayy. Once in power, Mahmud was paranoid of uprisings and coups, and would constantly keep a close guard around himself. Not even Malik himself was allowed to speak with the sultan alone. This paranoia led, ultimately, to the banishment of high positions in the palace, such as the High General. Most of the people from the positions Mahmud banished were willing to leave Rayy, as many saw quickly the sultan's corruption. The majority of them went to the city of Marv in Samanid lands. Nur ad-Din, who had been High General of the Seljuk Army since he was three years of age, refused the banishment. Mahmud had Nur ad-Din captured and he threatened either death or banishment. Nur ad-Din chose death, but Mahmud was still cursed with mercy. He would simply not kill his cousin (as Nur ad-Din's father had been Muhammad Khorasani, who was a husband to Eldem, who was the sister of Malik Shah and was the daughter of Alp Arslan), so he decided to send him on an utterly forced trip to northern Mesopotamia, the lands beyond Seljuk rule. There, Nur ad-Din declared himself Nur ad-Din Zengi, and became, in future years, emir of the Zengid Emirate. Meanwhile, Mahmud continued his trip to corruption. Now he put all evildoers to death, and his curse of mercy left him. His brothers Barkiyaruq, Mehmed, and Ahmad Sanjar gathered armies against him, and soon the palace of Rayy was burning. Barkiyaruq and Mehmed entered the palace with a few men while Ahmad stayed outside to command the revolt. Legend tells us of the events inside the palace. It is said Mehmed refused to go further from the courtyard and he turned back with the rest of the men while Barkiyaruq, always the most courageous of Malik Shah's sons, continued further into the palace. With his bow and his arrow, Barkiyaruq entered the throne room of Mahmud to find the sultan beheading his wife*. Barkiyaruq shot a single arrow and it hit the sultan's head, and death befell Mahmud. Barkiyaruq was barely able to escape the flames, however, and he was dealt several serious burns. Thus it was declared the future of the Seljuk royal line; first would be Barkiyaruq and his sons as Barkiyaruq was the boldest of the brothers. Next would be Mehmed and his sons, as Mehmed was willing to enter the palace but was unwilling to finish the job. Last would be Ahmad Sanjar and his sons, as Ahmad was unwilling to enter the palace in the first place.
*It is believed he killed his wife because she was supposedly working with the rebels.
constantinople
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Dat debt. 
Yagon99
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Chapter 25: The Invasion of Kerman
There, in the days after the capture of Baku and the War on the Caspian, in Baghdad a man of great faith to Sunni Islam was born. His name was Abu Dawud, and he was an Arab at heart though he was a Turkish citizen. Dawud, however, was horrified at the splitting of Islam, so he was often urged Barkiyaruq in the early days of his reign to simply declare that there should be no 'Sunni' or 'Shia', just 'Islam'. Barkiyaruq, however, took this as there should be no 'Shia' just 'Sunni'. Thus, the great project of religious unity in the empire began, but not on the right foot that Abu Dawud would've wanted.
Barkiyaruq in those days was a proud man, and he wished to cement his legacy into the history of the Great Seljuk Empire. He knew he could only do this through conquest. He did not wish to invade Georgia, for Georgia was large and strong, and the same went with anything else westward. however, there stood just east of the borders of Shiraz and Yazd a city-state called Kerman. Kerman was ruled by, legendarily, the last of the Buyids, the Seljuk's ancient enemy. Now, the siege began late in the year 1120, when slave soldiers on horseback began raiding the outskirts of the unwalled city. The Emir of Kerman sent out a group of archers in order to be rid of the menace, but the archers had walked into a death trap. Houses were burning on either side, so they had nowhere to run when the Ghulam lancers closed in around them. Now all that was left to defend Kerman was a group of ceremonial guards, javelinmen based after the skilled Daylami Tribesmen of the Buyid Emirate. However, the next strike came not from the south, as the last strike, but from the north. Ghulam horse archers, who had only recently been dispatched, attack the gates of the city quicker than ever seen before. Easily the ceremonial guard was overrun, and the Emir was killed in a similar manner to how the Buyid Emir was killed*. Thus Kerman was captured, and thus Barkiyaruq and the Ghulam riders had cemented their legacy into the history of the Great Seljuk Empire.
*See Chapter 5
There, in the days after the capture of Baku and the War on the Caspian, in Baghdad a man of great faith to Sunni Islam was born. His name was Abu Dawud, and he was an Arab at heart though he was a Turkish citizen. Dawud, however, was horrified at the splitting of Islam, so he was often urged Barkiyaruq in the early days of his reign to simply declare that there should be no 'Sunni' or 'Shia', just 'Islam'. Barkiyaruq, however, took this as there should be no 'Shia' just 'Sunni'. Thus, the great project of religious unity in the empire began, but not on the right foot that Abu Dawud would've wanted.
Barkiyaruq in those days was a proud man, and he wished to cement his legacy into the history of the Great Seljuk Empire. He knew he could only do this through conquest. He did not wish to invade Georgia, for Georgia was large and strong, and the same went with anything else westward. however, there stood just east of the borders of Shiraz and Yazd a city-state called Kerman. Kerman was ruled by, legendarily, the last of the Buyids, the Seljuk's ancient enemy. Now, the siege began late in the year 1120, when slave soldiers on horseback began raiding the outskirts of the unwalled city. The Emir of Kerman sent out a group of archers in order to be rid of the menace, but the archers had walked into a death trap. Houses were burning on either side, so they had nowhere to run when the Ghulam lancers closed in around them. Now all that was left to defend Kerman was a group of ceremonial guards, javelinmen based after the skilled Daylami Tribesmen of the Buyid Emirate. However, the next strike came not from the south, as the last strike, but from the north. Ghulam horse archers, who had only recently been dispatched, attack the gates of the city quicker than ever seen before. Easily the ceremonial guard was overrun, and the Emir was killed in a similar manner to how the Buyid Emir was killed*. Thus Kerman was captured, and thus Barkiyaruq and the Ghulam riders had cemented their legacy into the history of the Great Seljuk Empire.
*See Chapter 5
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