Kutalmış

Kutalmış (also spelled Kutlumush or Qutalmish) was a key figure in the history of the Seljuk dynasty. He was a Seljuk prince who played a significant role in the Seljuk expansion into Anatolia in the 11th century. He was a cousin of the Seljuk sultans Tughril-Beg and Alp Arslan, and challenged Alp Arslan for the Seljuk throne after Tughril-Beg's death.

Kutalmış’s challenge to Alp Arslan led to a succession crisis within the Seljuk Empire. He claimed the throne based on his lineage and military achievements. After a period of conflict, Alp Arslan ultimately prevailed, defeating Kutalmış in battle in 1063 or 1064. Kutalmış died shortly after this defeat, although the exact circumstances of his death are debated by historians, with some suggesting he was killed in battle and others that he died from his wounds or other causes.

Despite his defeat, Kutalmış is important because his sons, most notably Suleiman ibn Kutalmış, went on to found the Sultanate of Rum (also known as the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm) in Anatolia. Suleiman carved out a territory for himself in Anatolia following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 and established a Seljuk state that would last for centuries and play a major role in the history of the region, marking a significant shift in the demographics and political landscape of Anatolia and paving the way for the eventual rise of the Ottoman Empire. Thus, Kutalmış is seen as an important ancestor of the Seljuk rulers of Rum and a crucial figure in the Seljuk conquest and settlement of Anatolia. His legacy lies in the impact his descendants had on shaping the future of what is now modern-day Turkey.