51 - The Imperial Cloak

The Turkish History Podcast

Following the death of Kılıç Arslan, the Sultanate of Rum falls into disorder and becomes eclipsed by the other beyliks, in particular the Danishmend Beylik to the east ruled by Emir Ghazi. The Sultanate becomes divided between the sons of the dead Sword Lion - the brothers Mesud and Melik Arap in central Anatolia, the young Tuğrul Arslan in Malatya as a puppet of his mother and new stepfather, and Şahinşah in captivity in Iran. Eventually, Şahinşah returns from the East and faces off against Alexis Komnenos in the aging Emperor's final campaign. And the stage is set for the arrival of the next great Roman Sultan - Mesud I.