Seljuk Dynasty

The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( SEL-juuk; Old Anatolian Turkish: سلجك Sälcük; Azerbaijani: Səlcuqlular or Səlcuqilər; Turkmen: Seljuklar; Ottoman Turkish: سلچوق Selçuk; Turkish: Selçuklular; Persian: سلجوقیان Saljuqian,) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that culturally became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture. The founder of the Seljuk dynasty, Seljuk Beg, was a descendant of a royal Khazar chief Tuqaq who served as advisor to the King of the Khazars, in West Asia and Central Asia. The Seljuks established the Seljuk Empire (1037–1194), the Sultanate of Kermân (1041–1186) and the Sultanate of Rum (1074–1308), which stretched from Iran to Anatolia and were the prime targets of the First Crusade.