II. International Seljuk Historical Geography Symposium FULL TEXT BOOK-I
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Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Yayınları
One of the works of great importance in terms of Seljuk era Iranian historiography is Tārīkh al-Vuzarā, which belongs to Qummī (d. 584/1188). As the name suggests, the work includes the biography of the viziers who lived and served in the Seljuk period. We have limited information about the life of the author, which can only be değerinde from the work. The fact that he includes the couplets of the important poets of the Seljuk period, various parables and proverbs, and his mastery in using the language shows that Qummī has a wide knowledge in the field of history and literature. The work, which is a reference source about the lives of bureaucrats, especially the Iraq Seljuk Viziers and other members of the divān, as well as their relations with each other, contains complementary information from other sources about the Iranian geography and political history of the Seljuk period. In addition, information about the sulṭans and viziers of the Great Seljuk State, especially the Great Sulṭan Sandjar’s period (511-552/1118- 1157), is also included in the work. In this study, the information in Tārīkh al-Vuzarā belonging to the Great Seljuk State was determined and examined. While giving information about the Iraq Seljuks, the author did not neglect to give examples about some viziers and statesmen from the period of Tughrul Bey (431-455/1040-1063), retrospectively from time to time; He also touched upon the relations of the Iraq Seljuk Meliks with Sultan Sandjar and the important events that took place in Khurāsān during the reign of the great sultan. In these respects, bringing together and evaluating the information about the Great Seljuk Sulṭans and statesmen in the work will contribute to the history of the Seljuks. Since the main subject of this study is the examination of Tārīkh al-Vuzarā from the point of view of the Great Seljuks, the activities recorded in the work about Sulṭan Sandjar were based on the activities in his own domain. Since Sulṭan Sandjar had frequent relations with the Iraqi Seljuks and sheds light on the political history of the Iraq Seljuk State, this subject has been kept separate from the subject of the study. The ones we identified from the names mentioned by the Great Seljuk Sulṭans and statesmen in Qummī’s work are al-Kundurī, Niẓam al-Mulk, Müeyyid al-Mulk b. Niẓam al-Mulk, Sulṭan Berkyārūk, Majd al-mulk Abu al-Faẓl Muḥammad al-Balasānī, Ṣafī al-Dīn Abu al-Faẓl, Togan Beg al-Kāşgarī, Anūshirvān b. Khālid, Amir of Rey Abbas, Sulṭan Sandjar, Müeyyad Ay-aba. Sometimes the political activities of these historical figures and sometimes their characteristic features are included in the work. In fact, Qummī chose to praise or criticize with vivid expressions in his impressive descriptions. For example, Qummī likened the power and majesty of Sulṭan Sandjar to the sun, emphasizing that the ruler reached every part of his country like a sun, and that no one was under his power. In another example, the fact that he was a merciful and magnanimous sultan, approaching his nephews with a paternal affection and forgiving despite the attempts of rebellion was praised. In his work, Qummī gave detailed information about the administrators in many cities and centers in Iran and their appointment or dismissal. Details that we cannot find in other historical sources or complementary information from other historical sources are included in the work. The Ghūzz Revolt, one of the most important events of the Sulṭan Sandjar period, also found a wide place in the work. In the meantime, the suffering of the people of Khurāsān and the deplorable state of the cities and regions were again among the remarkable parts of Tārīkh al-Vuzarā.
