Turks in Abbasid-Fatimid relations

This study examines the political and military roles of the Turks within the framework of Abbasid–Fatimid relations. The political and sectarian rivalry that developed between the Abbasids and the Fatimids led to the emergence of a bipolar structure in the Islamic world. Based on the questions of which side and in what roles the Turks were influential in this bipolar Islamic world, we aimed to present and evaluate the activities of the Turks within a chronological framework and in light of the information provided by the sources. In our thesis, we presented the position of the Turks within the Abbasid Caliphate, the foundation and expansion process of the Fatimids, the activities of Turkish dynasties such as the Tulunids and the Ikhshidids in Egypt, and their relations with both caliphal centers. As a result of the conquest of Egypt, the Fatimids expanded their borders and increased their influence, which caused the struggle for dominance to shift to the regions of Syria and Iraq. During the period when the conflict reached its peak, we aimed to reveal—by examining primary sources and scholarly studies—how both local authorities and major powers like the Ghaznavids and the Seljuks assumed a central position in this struggle and altered the course of historical events.