Battle of Dandanaqan
Dandanaqan, near ancient Merv, present-day Turkmenistan
What happened
The Seljuk Turks, led by the brothers Tughril and Chaghri, fought the Ghaznavid army of Sultan Mas'ud I. Mas'ud marched a large army into Khorasan to drive out the Seljuks, horse-riding Turkmen newcomers. The Seljuks used hit-and-run raids to cut off his food and water, leaving his army hungry and tired. At Dandanaqan they attacked and won a decisive victory.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The battle ended Ghaznavid rule in Khorasan and gave the Seljuks the base for a great empire. Within fifteen years, Tughril was received in Baghdad by the caliph.
What came next
The Seljuks took cities such as Herat and Balkh. In 1055 Tughril entered Baghdad and was given the title 'King of the East and the West'.
Did you know?
Merv later became the capital of the Great Seljuk Empire, and its ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Timeline
- 1037Tughril is proclaimed in Nishapur.
- 23 May 1040The Seljuks defeat the Ghaznavids at Dandanaqan.
- 1055Tughril enters Baghdad at the caliph's invitation.
- 1063Tughril dies.