Alp Arslan
| Alp Arslan | |
|---|---|
| |
Miniature from the Majma al-Tawarikh by Hafiz Abru circa 1425; which depicts accession to the throne by Alp Arslan | |
| Sultan of the Seljuk Empire | |
| Reign | 4 October 1063 – 15 December 1072 |
| Predecessor | Tughril I |
| Successor | Malik-Shah I |
| Born | 20 January 1029 (1 Muharram 420 AH) |
| Died | 24 November 1072 (aged 43) (10 Rabiʻ I 465 AH) Barzam Fortress, near Amu Darya, Khwarezm |
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| Dynasty | Seljuk Dynasty |
| Father | Chaghri Beg |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Alp Arslan (Persian: آلپ ارسلان; full name: Muhammad Alp Arslan bin Dawud Chaghri) was the second sultan of the Seljuk Empire and great-grandson of Seljuk, the eponymous founder of the dynasty and the empire. He reigned from 1063 until his assassination in 1072.
Alp Arslan greatly expanded Seljuk territories and consolidated his power, defeating rivals to the south, east, and northwest. His victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 ushered in the Turkoman settlement of Anatolia. For his military achievements, he earned the name Alp Arslan, which means "Heroic Lion" in Turkish.