The founder's son, passed over as a child when his uncle Zangi took Fars, Tughril rose against his cousin Tekele in 1182-83, apparently recognised by the Eldiguzid atabeg Jahan Pahlavan, and seized parts of Fars before Tekele put him down.
After Tekele's death he rebelled again, and on 1 January 1200 he is fighting Sa'd for the atabegate in a war that brings famine and ruin to Fars. Where his strength lies that winter is not pinned. In 599/1202-03 Sa'd has him executed.
Who he is
- Name
- Qutb al-Din Tughril ibn Sunqur
- Title
- Salghurid prince, claimant to the atabegate of Fars
- Since
- Rose against Tekele in 1182-83; in revolt again since Tekele's death (594/1198 or earlier)
- Born
- Not pinned; he was a small child when his father Sunqur died in 1161 or 1163 (Mercil)
- Family
- Son of Muzaffar al-Din Sunqur ibn Mawdud, founder of the dynasty; cousin of Tekele and Sa'd. Wife and sons not pinned.
- Confidence
- low
German Wikipedia after Bosworth (EI2) and Spuler (EIr); Mercil (TDV) for his minority and his first revolt.
Overlord
Disputes the succession; no overlord.
What it holds
- Not pinned: parts of Fars in arms against Sa'd
- His claim to the whole atabegate as the founder's son
How it was acquired
Birthright claim as Sunqur's son.
Allies and rivals
Rival: Sa'd ibn Zangi. Earlier patron: the Eldiguzid Jahan Pahlavan (d. 1186). Allies among the Turkish emirs of Fars: not pinned.
How things stand that morning
In revolt; position not pinned.
Wealth
Whatever districts and emirs he controls; not pinned.
Threats
- Sa'd's army
- Desertion of his emirs as famine bites
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 599 AH (1202-03)Captured and executed by Sa'd.Depends on: Losing the war Stopped by: Victory over Sa'd or a negotiated share of Fars
Where the sources disagree
- Mercil (TDV 'Salgurlular') says Tekele captured Tughril and had him killed in 577/1181-82. If so, this record should be dropped and Sa'd holds Fars unchallenged. The GM's dossier and the Bosworth tradition keep Tughril alive until 1202-03.
Evidence: The modern authorities contradict each other on whether he was alive after 1182.
On the map: Drawn only as a claim over Fars.
Primary sources for Salghurids
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Comfort of Hearts and Sign of Joy: a History of the Seljuks, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rawandi (Ravandi) (1203 to 1204, dedicated to Kaykhusraw I of Rum). A history of the Great Seljuks from their origins to the death of the last sultan Toghril III in 1194, begun at Hamadan and finished for Kaykhusraw of Rum when the author moved to Anatolia. Read online
- Dictionary of Countries, Yaqut al-Hamawi (1224 to 1228, at Aleppo). An alphabetical gazetteer of every place Yaqut had read of or seen: he travelled as a bookseller's agent through Syria, Iraq, Persia, Khurasan and Khwarazm (about 1213 to 1220) and settled in Aleppo. Read online
Sources and studies
- 'Salghuriden', German Wikipedia (after Bosworth, EI2 'Salghurids'; Spuler, 'Atabakan-e Fars', EIr; Shahbazi; Limbert; Mercil)
- E. Mercil, 'Salgurlular', TDV Islam Ansiklopedisi (after Muhammad b. Ibrahim, Wassaf, Zarkub and Mercil, Fars Atabegleri Salgurlular, 1975)
- A. Sh. Shahbazi, 'Shiraz i. History to 1940', Encyclopaedia Iranica (after Zarkub, Shiraz-nama; Junayd Shirazi; Wassaf; Tarikh-i guzida)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.