Qilij Arslan II, Seljuk sultan of Ikonion M XII
Κλιτζιεσθλάν قليج أرسلان بن مسعود (Kilic Arslan 52)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(52)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(null)
Description
(9)
Ruled much land and was master of many nations
ἄνδρα τηλικαύτης ἡγεμονεύοντα γῆς καὶ τοσούτων κυριεύοντα ἐθνῶν. Kinnamos 205.3-4
He ruled a large area and had a large army, but he did not choose to live quietly, being by nature a troublemaker and as turbulent as a gulf of the sea; he harassed the Byzantines without declaring war or having reason for war, breaking truces by following his own personal desires
τῇ οἰκείᾳ δ᾽ ἐφέσει ταλαντεύων τὸ πραχθησόμενον. Niketas Choniates, Historia 122.56-123.62
In the eyes of
Manuel 1
, he was underhanded, his thinking was deceitful and unreliable, and he was constantly plotting insufferable insults, not only for his own kinsmen and blood relations but also on his border with Byzantium
ὑποκαθημένην ἀεὶ τὴν γνώμην ἔχοντα καὶ ὕπουλον τὸ φρονεῖν καὶ περίστροφον, καὶ μὴ μόνον δολοπλοκοῦντα τοῖς ἐκ γένους ἐκείνῳ καὶ αἵματος τὰ ἀνήκεστα, ἀλλὰ καὶ Ῥωμαίων ἀεὶ κατὰ λῃστείαν τὸ γειτονοῦν ἐκτρίβοντα. Niketas Choniates, Historia 1128.21-25
He was mendacious and had no idea of the meaning of truth
ἀπατεὼν ὢν καὶ μηδὲ τί ἐστιν ὅλως ἀλἠξεια ἐγνωκώς. Niketas Choniates, Historia 121.27
He was not physically handsome, but maimed in several limbs: his hands were arthritic and he was lame in both legs, so that he usually travelled on a litter; this led to the abusive name Koutso-Arslan (lame Arslan) later invented by the resourceful
Andronikos 1
... ἠκροτηριασμένος ἐν οὐκ ὀλίγοις τῶν καιρίων μερῶν ... Κουτζασθλάνην. Niketas Choniates, Historia 122.46-52
His spirit had been seriously affected by events around Dorylaion
τὰ γὰρ ἀμφὶ Δορυλαίῳ ξυμπεπτωκότα μεγάλα τῆς αὐτοῦ καθίκετο ψυχῆς. Kinnamos 299.8-9
He always showed forethought, seeming to be deliberate and meditative in his actions, carefully carrying out his battle plan through his subordinate commanders (nobody ever saw him standing in the front rank of a formation, or sharing the toil with his troops)
προμηθευτικὸς ἀεὶ καὶ βουλευτικὸς ἐδόκει τις εἶναι καὶ τὰ ἔργα ποιῶν μετὰ σκέμματος καὶ ἐτολύπευε τὰς μάχας πεφυλαγμένως διὰ τῶν ὑπ’ αὐτὸν στρατηγῶν (οὐ γάρ πω τις
αὐτὸν ἐθεάσατο ἐπὶ μετώπου ἱστάμενον φάλαγγος ἢ τὸν κάματον τοῖς στρατιώταις συνδιαφέροντα). Niketas Choniates, Historia 175.40-44
Ruled over Lykaonia
Λυκαονίας ἡγεμονεύοντος. Kinnamos 288.7
He said ironically (probably in the 1070s), that the more harm he did to the Byzantines, the more goods he received from the emperor: conquerors were given gifts to stop conquering, just as severe diseases required extra treatment so as not to spread
ὅσῳ ἂν μείζω δράσειε Ῥωμαίους διενά, τοσούτῳ μείζω ὑπὸ βασιλέως ἀγαθὰ πείσεται. Niketas Choniates, Historia 124.20-21
Dignity/Office
(2)
Sultan of Ikonion
ὁ Περσῶν Σουλτάν. Kinnamos 176.5
soldani Yconiensis. William of Tyre bk. 16, 27.7, bk. 20, 25.24
Education
(null)
Ethnic label
(1)
Turkish (Persian)
Περσῶν. Kinnamos 176.5
Second Name
(null)
Kinship
(6)
brother of
Shahan-Shah 17001
ἀδελφόν. Kinnamos 199.23
ἀδελφός ... καὶ ἐκ τῶν αὐτῶν ἔφυ σπερμάτων. Kinnamos 291.14-15
κασίγνητον. Niketas Choniates, Historia 123.66
brother-in-law of
Yaghi-Basan 17001
κηδεστήν. Kinnamos 200.2
son of
Masud 17001
ابن. Ibn Shaddad 376
υἱῷ. Niketas Choniates, Historia 116.75
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(14)
Amaseia
because of
Michael 17005
s delaying, received the surrender of Amaseia ᾿Αμάσειαν. Kinnamos 296.11-15
Attaleia
Soon after the death of
Manuel 1
, he conducted a long siege of Attaleia τὴν Ἀττάλου. Niketas Choniates, Historia 262.13
Bahasna
gained Bahasna from
Nur al-Din 4001
, but soon lost it again بهسنى. Ibn Shaddad 376
Constantinople
made a visit to Constantinople τὴν Κωνσταντίνου. Niketas Choniates, Historia 118.38
made a voluntary visit to Constantinople Βυζάντιον. Kinnamos 204.23
Constantinople: Blachernai
paid a visit to Blachernai τὰ κατὰ νότον τῆς πόλεως ἀνάκτορα. Kinnamos 207.9
Constantinople: Great Palace
was lodged in the Palace Βυζάντιον ... ἐν παλατίῳ. Kinnamos 204.23-208.11
Constantinople: Hippodrome
was delighted with the spectacles of the Hippodrome τῶν τῆς ἱπποδρομίας θεαμάτων. Kinnamos 207.13
Kotyaion (Phrygia)
soon after the death of
Manuel 1
, he sacked Kotyaion Niketas Choniates, Historia 262.14
Lykaonia
was ruler of Lykaonia Λυκαονία. Kinnamos 288.7
Pounoura
captured and briefly held Pounoura Πούνουρα. Kinnamos 176.5
Sebasteia (Cappadocia)
when in Constantinople he promised to give Sebasteia to
Manuel 1
Σεβάστειαν. Niketas Choniates, Historia 121.19
Sibyla
captured and briefly held Sibyla Σίβυλα. Kinnamos 176.6
Sozopolis (Pisidia)
At the death of
Manuel 1
, he captured Sozopolis and the surrounding area Σωζόπολιν. Niketas Choniates, Historia 262.10-12
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(null)
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)