The power struggle between The Abbasid Caliphate and The Seljuks of Iraq

One of the most important stages in Islamic history is undoubtedly the period when the Abbâsîd caliphs transferred their political powers to the Seljuk sultans. This stage began with the entry of the Great Seljuk Sultan Tughrul Bey into the caliphate center of Baghdad in the year 1055. Abbâsîd Caliph Kaim Biemrillah ceremoniously transferred his secular powers to Tughrul Bey. From this date onwards, while the Seljuks took over the leadership of the Islamic world, the caliphate was limited to a purely religious and spiritual position. Abbâsîd caliphs remained in a relatively passive position in Baghdad during the reign of the Seljuk sultans, who were at the peak of their power. The Seljuk sultans, on the other hand, kept the caliphs under constant surveillance by establishing kinship ties and through the governors they appointed to Baghdad. This situation changed with the relocation of the state center to the east by Sultan Sanjar. Sultan Sanjar placed the Abbâsîd Caliphate under the guardianship of the Iraq Seljuk State, which he established with Hamedan as its center. From this point on, taking advantage of Sultan Sanjar's relatively distant position from Baghdad, the caliphs made various attempts to reclaim their former powers. Caliph Mustarshid assembled an army and took to the battlefield against Dubays, who constantly caused unrest in the region. Caliph Mustarshid's rebellion against the Seljuks served as an inspiration to the caliphs who would come after him. However, his adventure ended tragically during the reign of Sultan Masud. Caliph Muktafi did not wish to confine his powers only to Baghdad. Therefore, he started conquest movements in Iraq and its surroundings in an attempt to expand his political influence. The subsequent Seljuk sultans of Iraq after Sultan Masud struggled to control the caliphs. The conflicts between the caliph and the sultan reached their peak during the reign of Nasir al-Din Allah. He not only regained the political dominance lost to the Seljuks but also brought about the end of the Iraq Seljuk State through the alliances he formed.