Kayqubad I

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Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) built in Alanya by Alâeddin Keykubad I.
Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) built in Alanya by Alâeddin Keykubad I.

Kayqubad I (Arabic/Persian: علا الدين كيقباد بن كيكاوس, 'Alā al-Dīn Kayqubād bin Kaykā'ūs; Turkish: I. Alâeddin Keykubad) was the Seljuk Sultan of Rum who reigned from 1220 to 1237. He was considered the most illustrious prince of the dynasty.[1]

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[edit] Biography

Under his rule, Seljuk Anatolia reached its apogee. He sponsored a large scale building campaign across Anatolia. Apart from reconstructing towns and fortresses, he built many mosques, medreses, caravanserais, bridges and hospitals many of which are preserved to this day as testimonials to the golden age for Anatolian Seljuks his period had been. Besides completing the construction of the Seljuk Palace in Konya, he also built the Kubadabad Palace on the shore of Lake Beyşehir and Keykubadiye Palace in Kayseri, from both of which vestiges presently explored reached our day. Because of his qualities as a ruler, he became a legendary figure and is referred to as "Kayqubad the Great".

In external policy, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was reduced still further and became vassalized to Konya. The Turcomans who were settled along the Taurus Mountains, which came to be named the region of İçel (former name of the present-day Mersin Province) were later to form the basis of the Beylik of Karamanoğlu, founded in the same region towards the end of the 13th century. In eastern Anatolia, where the arrival of Jelal ad-Din Menguberdi, fleeing the demise of his Khwarezmian Empire by the Mongols, had created a new political situation, Keykubad advanced in 1227/1228 by defeating the Artukids and the Ayyubids, absorbing the Beylik of Mengücek, and capturing the fortresses of Hısn Mansur (Adıyaman), Kahta and Çemişgezek along his advance. He subjugated a revolt by the Empire of Trebizond and, although falling short of capturing their capital, forced the Komnenos family to renew their treaty of vassaldom. At first seeking an alliance with his Turkish kinsman Jelal ad-Din Manguberdi against the Mongol danger looming in the horizon, he finally defeated him in the Battle of Yassıçimen between Sivas and Erzincan in 1230. After his victory, he advanced further east, establishing Seljuk rule over Erzurum, Ahlat and the region of Lake Van. Artukids of Diyarbekir and the Ayyubids of Syria recognized his sovereignty, while he also captured a number of fortresses in Georgia and subjugated the queen, arranging a marriage between her daughter Tamar and Kayqubad's son, Kaykhusraw II.[2]

He died at an early age in 1237, the last of his line to die in independence.

[edit] Family

Kayqubad had three sons:[3]

  • 'Izz al-Din, son of his Ayyubid wife
  • Rukn al-Din, son of his Ayyubid wife
  • Kaykhusraw II, the eldest

Kayqubad originally tried to have his subjects swear allegiance to his son Izz al-Din, but the emirs generally preferred to rally behind the more powerful Kaykhusraw. With no clear-cut successor, conflict broke out between the various factions upon Kayqubad's death.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Cahen, p. 124
  2. ^ Cahen, p. 130
  3. ^ Cahen, p. 133

[edit] References

Preceded by
Keykaus I		 Sultan of Rûm
1220–1237		 Succeeded by
Kaykhusraw II


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