THE ENTRANCE OF AFSHIN BEY ON THE HISTORICAL STAGE OF THE SELJUK PERIOD

ABSTRACT Afshin Bey, who came from a Turkmen Horasan family turned Anatolia to Turkic, is considered to be one of the greatest Seljuk empire commanders. Afshin Bey participated in the flotation campaigns made to the West in the years of 1016-1021. Gumushtekin, who was assigned to Gaza in 1066 by Sultan Alp Arslan in order to invade into Anatolia, Afshin Bey and many other Turkic governors were found in seizure of lands in Murat and Dicle Rivers’ basins. In 1067, they captured Kayseri and entered Cilicia. Afshin Bey crossed Anatolia and started to attack the southeast and south regions of Anatolia by the Seljuk raiding forces in 1069. Great Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan, was to a high degree glad for his gaze Afshin Bey and congratulated him as he was informed of his victories and conquests. At the head of these forces apart from Afshin Bey, were prominent Turkmen governors such as Sunduk, Ahmed Turkmen et-Turki, Demlegoglu Muhammed and Duduoglu. In 1066-1067, Hacib Gumushtekin went to Anatolia in the presence of many Turkmen governors such as Afshin Bey and Ahmed Shah. Afshin Bey joined Malazgirt victory in 1071 and carrying out the great service. Afshin Bey, who gained fame in Gaza served to turn Anatolia to Turkic homeland and contributed to its Islamization, later, after Sultan Alp Arslan entered into Sultan Melikshah’s auspice. In 1075 he went to Haleb from Anatolia. He took charge of punishing the rebels there. In our article titled “The Entrance of Afshin Bey on the Historical Stage of the Seljuk Period”, the information on the first conquest of Anatolia to Seljuks and their movements will be covered in a wide range. Key words: Afshin Bey, Seljuk Period, Alp Arslan, Gaza.