Saltukids

The Saltukids or Saltuqids (Modern Turkish: Saltuklu Beyliği ) were a dynasty ruling one of the Anatolian beyliks founded after the Battle of Manzikert (1071) and centered on Erzurum. The Saltukids ruled between 1071 to 1202. The beylik was founded by Emir Saltuk, one of the Turkmen commanders of the Great Seljuk Alp Arslan. The beylik fought frequently against the Georgian Kingdom for hegemony of Kars region. Center of the beylig, Erzurum, was occupied by Byzantine Empire between 1077–1079 and was besieged by the Georgian King Giorgi III in 1184. It compromised present whole Erzurum and Bayburt provinces also east of Erzincan, most of Kars, north of Ağrı and Muş provinces during its height.

The first known Saltukid is Ali, who was ruler of Erzurum in 1103. His son and successor was Saltuk, who succeeded him sometime after 1123. Saltuk had a female relative, a daughter or sister, who married Shah-i- Armind of Akhlat, Sukman II.

The Beys of Saltuk left important works of architecture, particularly in Erzurum and Mamahatun.