Alp Arslan

آلب أرسلان (محمد بن داود)

["Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire", "Heroic Lion", "Victor of Manzikert"]

Born Jan 20, 1029

Merv (Khorasan), Seljuk Empire

Passed Away Dec 15, 1072 Oxus River (Amudarya), Seljuk Empire

Lifespan 43 years old

1 views

Notice / Correction

"If I am killed, this white robe shall be my shroud. Today, there is no sultan and no soldier: I fight as one of you."

Archival Overview

Second Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire whose historic victory over Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 opened Anatolia to Turkish settlement.

Biographical Record

Muhammad bin Dawood, known as Alp Arslan ('Heroic Lion', 1029–1072), succeeded his uncle Tughril Beg in 1063. Advised by the brilliant Persian vizier Nizam al-Mulk, Alp Arslan consolidated Seljuk rule from Central Asia to the borders of the Byzantine Empire.

On August 26, 1071, at Manzikert (Malazgirt in eastern Turkey), Alp Arslan's 30,000 horse archers confronted Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes' 60,000-man imperial Byzantine army. Wearing white robes and declaring it his shroud, Alp Arslan executed a classic nomadic crescent ambush, capturing the Byzantine emperor and treating him with noble courtesy.

Key Life Milestones

1071

Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt)

Decisively defeated the Byzantine Empire and captured Emperor Romanos IV, opening Anatolia to Turkish history.

1064

Capture of Ani

Conquered the ancient stone-walled Armenian capital fortress of Ani, expanding Seljuk frontiers.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Seljuk Imperial Tombs
Merv, Turkmenistan

                         GPS: 37.6617, 62.1889                    

View on Memory Atlas

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