Critical comparison of patterns of formation of local and Atabek Seljuk dynasties

The common view about formation and establishment of local and Atabek government in Seljuk territory refer to maintenance of a Turk tradition which is dividing lands. This tradition continued during Seljuk period and some parts of Seljuk territory handed over parts to prominent Turkmen leaders. This practice gave rise to establishment of local power. According to this view, the continuation of the Atabek institution, which was social in essence, caused the military rulers who were in charge of the young Turkish princes as well as administration of those lands to establish Atabek dynasties after weakening of the Great Seljuk. This paper intends to study the pattern of formation of local and Atabek dynasties by historical analysis. The findings show that despite the fact that the political and social traditions of the Turks were somehow effective in the formation of all local and Atabek dynasties, but contrary to popular belief, among the four local powers - Kerman Seljuk Sultanate, Shaam Seljuk, Rum Sultanate and Iraqi Seljuks - only Kerman Seljuk Sultanate conforms to the common pattern. Also, among the four Atabek dynasties - Zangian of Mosul and Shaam, Eldiguz of Azerbaijan and Iran, Salghurids of Fars and Yazd Atabek - only Eldiguz was formed to a large extent according to the mentioned pattern. The other six local and Atabek dynasties, each based on religious, economic, military, power struggles, border guards, succession crises, or a combination of these factors, were formed on a completely different pattern.