★ UPRIGHT TAIL ★

SELJUQ of RUM.Kaykhusraw II.(1237-1246).Konya 639 AH.Dirham.

Obv : الامام المستنصر بالله امير المؤمنين / ضرب هذا لدرهم بقونية.
Imam Al-Mustansir Billah, Commander of the Faithful / This dirham was minted in Konya.

Rev : السلطان الاعظم / غياث الدنيا و الدين / كيخسرو بن كيقباد.
The Great Sultan / Helper of the World and Religion / Kaykhusraw son of Kayqubad.

Condition : This coin shows a moderately worn condition with clearly visible details. The patina appears to be a mix of silver tones and light tarnish, giving the coin an authentic aged appearance. The slight yellowish patina in the crevices adds character, contrasting with the lighter silver tones on the raised areas, enhancing the visibility of the intricate design.Good very fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis : 2h

Weight : 2.88 gr
Diameter : 22 mm

The Abbasid caliphs, who held religious and symbolic authority over the Muslim world from the mid-8th century until the Mongol conquest of Baghdad in 1258, were regarded as the spiritual leaders of the Islamic community, even though their political power waned over time. As the caliphate's political control fragmented, other dynasties, such as the Seljuqs, arose to become the dominant military and political forces within the Islamic world. Despite this shift in political power, the Seljuq rulers, particularly those in Anatolia who established the Sultanate of Rum, continued to recognize the spiritual authority of the Abbasid caliphs. This recognition was often reflected in the official discourse, political alliances, and, significantly, in the design and inscriptions on the coins minted by the Seljuq sultans.

The relationship between the Seljuqs and the Abbasid caliphs was rooted in a complex interplay of power, religious legitimacy, and mutual benefit. The Seljuqs, originally of Turkic origin, gained prominence in the 11th century when they expanded their dominions across Persia, Iraq, and into Anatolia. One of their greatest achievements was restoring the Abbasid caliphate’s position as a symbolic authority after a long period of domination by other powers, such as the Buyids. In 1055, the Seljuq leader Tughril Beg entered Baghdad and established the Seljuq Empire as the protector of the Abbasid caliphate, allowing the caliphs to regain a degree of autonomy under Seljuq military protection. This relationship was one of mutual interest: the Abbasids provided the Seljuqs with religious legitimacy, while the Seljuqs offered military protection and political support to the caliphs.

As the Seljuqs expanded into Anatolia and founded the Sultanate of Rum, their rulers maintained this symbolic relationship with the Abbasids. Even though the Seljuqs of Rum operated with significant autonomy from Baghdad, they still acknowledged the caliph’s spiritual authority, as this was crucial for the legitimacy of their rule. The Abbasid caliphs represented the unifying force of Islam, and aligning with them allowed the Seljuqs to legitimize their sultans as rightful rulers within the Islamic world. This was particularly important as the Seljuqs were governing a region that had been heavily influenced by Byzantine and Christian cultures and had a mixed population of Muslims, Christians, and others.

One of the key ways the Seljuq sultans expressed their allegiance to the Abbasid caliphs was through their coinage. Coins, being a public symbol of authority, were not just used for economic transactions but also served as a means to project political power and religious legitimacy. By placing the name of the Abbasid caliph on their coins, the Seljuq rulers were publicly declaring their loyalty to the caliphate and underscoring their position as legitimate Islamic rulers. This practice reinforced the idea that the sultans governed under the aegis of the caliph, even if the political power of the Abbasids was largely nominal by the time the Seljuqs ruled.

Seljuq coins, particularly those minted in the Sultanate of Rum, often bore the names of both the reigning sultan and the Abbasid caliph. The inclusion of the caliph’s name on the coins served multiple purposes. It reaffirmed the sultan’s authority as a legitimate Muslim ruler and demonstrated the Seljuq’s commitment to the wider Islamic world, despite their physical distance from Baghdad and the declining power of the Abbasids. This practice also served to unite the Muslim populations under Seljuq rule by emphasizing a shared religious and political identity centered on the caliphate.

The use of Abbasid caliphal names on Seljuq coinage also reflected the broader tradition within the Islamic world of associating political authority with the caliphate. Even in periods when the caliphate had little direct control over the territories in question, rulers across the Islamic world—from North Africa to Persia—would often invoke the name of the caliph on their coinage. This was not merely an act of piety but also a practical measure for securing legitimacy in the eyes of their Muslim subjects.

The inclusion of Abbasid names on Seljuq coins served as a reminder that, despite the Seljuqs’ significant political and military power, they ruled within the framework of Islamic governance, which placed the caliph at its head. By doing so, the Seljuqs reinforced their connection to the broader Islamic world and maintained a degree of unity in a time of political fragmentation. The Abbasid caliph, though lacking in practical power, remained a figure of spiritual significance, and the display of his name on coins issued by rulers like the Seljuqs helped preserve the idea of a unified Islamic community under the symbolic leadership of the caliphate.

In summary, the Seljuq sultans of Rum maintained their allegiance to the Abbasid caliphs as a means of reinforcing their religious legitimacy, despite the Abbasid caliphs’ diminishing political authority. The recognition of this allegiance was most visibly expressed through the inclusion of the caliph’s name on Seljuq coinage, which served as both a religious and political statement. This practice linked the sultans of Rum to the wider Islamic world and allowed them to assert their legitimacy as rightful Islamic rulers under the spiritual authority of the caliphate. The use of coinage in this way reflects the enduring influence of the Abbasid caliphate, even in periods of political fragmentation, and highlights the importance of religious legitimacy in the governance of the Seljuq state.