- SELJUKS, or SELJUK-TURKS, were an offshoot of the Hoei-IIe or Hoci-Hu, is collec tion of tribes of Turkish race, who, being driven south-westward from the'Chinese wall, had, in 744, A.a-, overwhelmed that Turkish empire of Kiptchak which had given so much annoyance to the Sassanidse (q.v.) during their reign in Persia. The Hoei-Hu .rapidly extended their power from the Caspian sea as far as the Hoang-ho, and, at the time when the Seljnks separated themselves from them, were ruled by a chief named Biga Khan. Seljuk, from whom the Seljuks derived their name, was the chief of a small tribe which had gained possession of Bokhara and the surrounding country. His sons, attracted by the beauty and fertility of Khorassan, began about 1027, to migrate to that country, anil after some struggles with the Chiznevide sultans, established them selves in northern Khorassan, with ToonnLBEo, the eldest grandson of Seljuk, as their chief, and Nishapur as their capital. Togrul, leaving his brother in Khorassan, set out on his conquering march, subdued Balkh and Khaurezm in 1041, Irak-Ajemi in 1043, subsequently adding to these Kerman and Fars. Ile then advanced to Bagdad, which he took in 1055, dethroning the last vizier of the Dilemite (see SAItAxi) dynasty, and being invested by the reigningrealiph with the vacant office; after which he completed his conquest of Persia by the reduction of Irak-Arabi and .Mosul about 1061. The Seljuks were zealous Mohammedans, and Togrul Beg seems to have been a vigorous promoter of the faith which he professed, for he built numerous mosques, subsidized pious and learned men, mid treated the caliph—his spiritual chief—with profound respect. After his death in 1063, his nephew Alp-Arslan (q. v.) succeeded to supreme power, and became one of the most reuowned monarchs of Asia. His son 31sakai SHAH (107343), the most powerful monarch of this dynasty, added, by means of his generals, Arabia, Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria and Palestine, and Transoximut to his empire, which now extended from the Hellespont to the borders of Chinese Tartary ; and even the rider of Cashgar aeknowleged his authority. This empire, though extensive and ill-compacted, was preserved in the highest order and prosperity by his able minister, the virtuous Nizam-ul-Mulk, under whose, firm, just, and wise government the rights of till classes were maintained, religion promoted, and learning encouraged, till the Persians who had dreaded the conquest of their country by the Turks as the worst of evils, were forced to confess that it had proved the greatest of blessings. In 1099 Melek Shah, lending an ear to the misrepresentations of Nizam-ul-Mulk's enemies, deprived him or his office; and the aged niiiiister was soon afterward assassinated Voile of the followers of Ilussnn Subah, the chief of the assassins (q v.), and the mortal enemy of the good ex-vizier. Hospitals, caravansaries, bridges, roads, and canals attest the zeal with which the com mercial interests of the empire were furthered; while the colleges of Bassora, Ispahan, and Herat, the law-college of Bagdad, and the observatory (the first in Asia) of the same city indicate the care bestowed on the promotion of literature and science. Melek Shah,
under whom the empire of the Seljnkshadattained the height of its power and splendor, laid a sure foundation for its rapid decline by- shbdividing it into a number of separate principalities, all professedly suuject to the central state of Iran or Bagdad. The chief of they principalities were: 1. The central state of the &Yaks of Iran, whose ruler was the vizier of the caliph, and exercised direct authority over northern and western Persia to the borders of tlia Arabian desert. The chief monarchs of this branch were Mohammed Shah, whose generrls warred with the crusaders in Palestine, and sultan Sanja•, one of the most celebrated of the Seljuk princes, great both in success and misfortune. This branch was annihilated in 1194 by the shah of Ehaurezin. 2. The Seljuks of lierman, who were annihilated in 1191 by the Glum Turkomans. 3. The Seljuks of7conium, who ruled over Asia Minor. and whose founder was Soliman, a great-grandson of Seljuk. This branch endured for 224 years—from 1075 to 1299—and during that period was engaged in numerous wars with the Byzantines and with the crusaders, both of whom learned to dread its power. During its last years it was tributary to the Mongols; and in 1299 the present Turkish empire rose on the ruins of its power (see OrimAN). 4. the Se juke of Aleppo, who ruled from 1079 till their extinction in 1144. 5. Vie SeOula of Nava& who were speedily supplanted by attabegs, or independent governors, of whom Zenglii, and his renowned son, Noureddin (q.v.). were the most celebrated. 6. The &l inks of Damascus, an offshoot (1096) from the Aleppo principality, which lasted till 1155, i when was pit an end to by Noureddin. 7. .ihe Seyuks of Mardein. who only appear in common history as the allies of the Seljuks of Iconium, Mosul. Aleppo. and Damas cus, against the mighty crusading armies of western Europe. And 8. 771e of Khaurczen (nem), who founded a great empire. including the whole of the country within the Jaxartes, the Bolor mountains. the Indus. the sea of Oman, and the Persian guff: but the last monarch. Allah-ed-din Mohamined Shah, having wantonly put to death some Mongol merchants who were pursuing their avocations within his dominions, was doomed to destruction by the terrible Genghis Khan (q.v.), who crossed the Sir-Daria, conquered Transoxiana, defeated Mohammed's armies, and drove the shah himself to take refuge in an island of the Caspian, where he died. The advance of the Mongols was gallantly opposed by Mohammed's celebnited son, .Telal-ed-din. who twice defeated them; hut being totally routed (1221), on the w. bank of the Indus, by Genghis himself, he plunged his horse into the Indus, and safely reached the opposite bank, none of his enemies daring to follow him. The whole of this extensive empire now /fell under 3Iongol domination.