İzzettin Saltuk | |
|---|---|
 Salduq b. `Ali under the authority ofTughril Beg, Rukh al-Din Abu Talib.Erzurum, 540-70 H (1146-1176 CE). | |
| Bey ofSaltukids | |
| In office 1132–1168 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | April 1168 |
| Nationality | Turk |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Seljuq Empire |
| Battles/wars | Battle against theGeorgians |
Saltuk II (İzzettin Saltuk) was abey ofSaltukids in the 12th century.
AfterAlp Arslan ofSeljukids defeated theByzantine army in thebattle of Manzikert in 1071, a series ofTurkmenbeyliks (kingdoms) were formed inAnatolia before Anatolia was united by theSultanate of Rum. Saltukids was one of them. Its capital wasErzurum. Saltuk II was the fourth Sultan of this Saltukids.
Saltuk became the bey after the death of his uncle Ziyaeddin in 1132. He formed family relations with the other Turkmen beyliks around Erzurum. However, whenFakr al-Din Shaddad, aShaddadid emir ofAni asked for Saltuk's daughter's hand Saltuk refused him. This caused a deep hatred in Şeddat towards Saltuk. In 1154 he planned a plot and formed a secret alliance with theDemetrius I of Georgia. While aGeorgian army waited in ambush, he invited Saltuk to Ani with the pretext of selling the fort to Saltukids. Saltuk was taken prisoner by the Georgians. After ransom was paid by Saltuk's sons in law and Saltuk swore not to fight against the Georgians he returned home.[1]
Towards the end of Saltuk's reign in 1161,George III of Georgia captured Ani. Turkmen beys formed a coalition to recapture Ani. Saltuk was a part of this coalition. But during the siege, Georgian army arrived to defend the fort and Saltuk remembering his oath, left the battle field. The campaign was a failure. However, two years later, Georgians were defeated by a coalition of Muslim leaders and Saltuk was able to expand his territory.[2]
Saltuk died in 1168. He was succeeded by his son Nasiruddin Muhammed. Next ruler after Nasiruddin wasMama Hatun (a female ruler, a rare example in an Islamic land) who was Saltuk’s daughter. His other daughter, Shahbanu, marriedSökmen II, ruler ofAhlatshahs.