Sultan Malik-Shah’s Understanding of Feudal Governance (Reasons-Practices-Consequences)

Abstract

From the foundation of the Great Seljuk Empire, certain members of the royal family were granted various feudal rights. After the Battle of Dandanaqan in 1040, the Marw Council decided to limit these rights to a small number of dynasts. However, Sultan Alp Arslan changed this by granting iqtā’ lands to more members of the family, thereby giving them administrative authority. In this system -unlike that of Tughril Bey- the sultan retained the right to reclaim the land, while the princes governed it in his name. This policy shift was shaped by lessons from the revolts of İbrahim Inal and Kutalmish, who had been denied such rights. Sultan Malik-Shah went even further, significantly broadening the scope of feudalism. He extended feudal privileges not only to royal family members but also to powerful commanders and even foreign officials. This shift was driven by military, political, geographical and other needs. Continuing conquests, maintaining order in remote regions, reinforcing central authority indirectly, and projecting imperial prestige all contributed to this expansion. For instance, Sultan Malik-Shah granted such rights to commanders like Sāw Takīn and Gawhar-Ayin, and even to non-dynastic figures like Fakhr al-Dawla. Sultan Malik-Shah also allowed them to use limited symbols of sovereignty such as having a ceremonial tent, playing the naubat, and being mentioned in khutbas after the Sultan.