Afshin Bey

Afshin Bey (Turkish: Afşin Bey; fl.1016-1077) was a Khorasani Turkmen commander of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century. He served three Sultans: Chaghri Beg, Alp Arslan and Malik-Shah I. He is believed to have disappeared after 1077.

Afshin Bey
Born1016
AllegianceSeljuk Empire
RankMilitary Commander

Life

The young Afshin joined the service of Chaghri bin Mika'il bin Saljûk in 1016 and assisted him in his campaigns. [1][2] In 1064, He was made responsible for the Seljuk incursions into Byzantium. He conquered many cities that still remain in Turkey today.[3] Due to his great feats, he had become a bitter enemy of the Byzantines and was captured near Hoshin (later, released for ransom).[1] He partnered with Emir Gümüshtigin of the Danishmendid dynasty to defeat the Byzantines in Malatya.[1][2] In 1066, the Bey raided the Nur Mountains.[4] In 1067, he captured Kayseri and Kilikiya.[5] His liege Alp Arslan was overjoyed with these military feats.[2] Later, Afshin Bey raided Georgian territories.[1] In 1070, Afshin Bey with his soldiers (10,000 men) defeated another Byzantine army.[1] In a sudden twist of events, a Seljuk commander killed Afshin's brother, and Afshin killed him for revenge. This made Afshin a fugitive and he ran away to Anatolia, conquering lands on the way. After some time passed, Afshin made peace with Alp Arslan and gave those lands to him.[1] In 1071, Afshin participated in Battle of Manzikert as a Seljuk commander.[2] In 1077, Malik Shah I shifted several commanders including Afshin Bey to be under the command of his brother Tutush.[1] Afshin was sent to Aleppo to crush rebellions.[1] However, disagreements ensued and Afshin disappeared.

He was paid homage by Diriliş: Ertuğrul, a historical docudrama. His character was played by Turgut Tunçalp.[1]

See also

References
  1. Ibn Aziz Ahmed, Ammār. "Who was Afshin Bey?". Retrieved June 30.
  2. Sözlük, Ekşi. "Afşin Bey".
  3. Baynes, T.S. (2008). Anni, Encyclopædia Britannica (9th ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, p. 72.
  4. Jos J. S. Weitenberg, "The Armenian Monasteries in the Black Mountain", in K. Ciggaar and M. Metcalf (eds.), East and West in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean, Vol. 1 (Peeters, 2006), pp. 79–81.
  5. Brian Todd Carey (2012). Road to Manzikert: Byzantine and Islamic Warfare (527–1071), p. 132. ISBN 978-184884-215-1.
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