The Saljuq al-Malik Dā’ūd ibn Maḥmūd ibn Muḥammad and his role in the struggle for the throne of the Saljuq Sultanate (525-538 AH / 1131-1143 AD)

Abstract

The Saljuq al-Malik Dā’ūd ibn Maḥmūd ibn Muḥammad was the crown prince during the reign of his father, Sultan Maḥmūd ibn Muḥammad ibn Malakshah, and was sultan for a short period after the death of his father. This article examines his personality and career in terms of his birth, lineage, upbringing, and culture and his role as crown prince and sultan as he struggled for the throne with his uncles Sultans Tughril and Mas‘ūd. The article investigates the circumstances for his failure to succeed his father during the disputed succession. The study concludes that Dawud’s young age when his father, Sultan Maḥmūd, died and the support of his father’s uncle Sultan Sanjar for his uncles played major roles in his inability to remain sultan once he came of age.