Danishmendids
The Danishmendids or Danishmends (Turkish: Dânişmendliler) was a Turkoman beylik that ruled in north-central and eastern Anatolia from 1071/1075 to 1178. The dynasty centered originally around Sivas, Tokat, and Niksar in central-northeastern Anatolia, they extended as far west as Ankara and Kastamonu for a time, and as far south as Malatya, which they captured in 1103. In early 12th century, Danishmends were rivals of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, which controlled much of the territory surrounding the Danishmend lands, and they fought extensively against the Crusaders.
Danishmend | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1071/1075–1178 | |||||||||
Anatolia in 1097, before the Siege of Nicaea | |||||||||
| Capital | Sivas Niksar | ||||||||
| Common languages | Old Anatolian Turkish Medieval Greek | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Bey, Ghazi, Melik | |||||||||
• 1071/1075–1084 | Danishmend Gazi | ||||||||
• 1175–1178 | Nasreddin Muhammed | ||||||||
| Historical era | High Medieval | ||||||||
• Established | 1071/1075 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1178 | ||||||||
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The dynasty was established by Danishmend Gazi for whom historical information is rather scarce and was generally written long after his death. His title or name, Dānishmand (دانشمند) means "wise man" or "one who searches for knowledge" in Persian.