Artuk Bey - The Famous Commander of the Seljuk Era
Artuk Bey in Dirilis Ertugrul
Artuk Bey was a real person but his depiction in the series Dirilis Ertugrul like quite a few others (particularly in Season 2 {see below}) is one where historical personalities are being mentioned/being paid homage to rather than an accurate historical representation of the historical personality or the time period in which they lived in (anachronistic).
In addition, he actually descends from the Döğer Tribe (Tüger/Deogers) of Oghuz Turks rather than the Dodurga Tribe of Oghuz Turks as presented in Resurrection Ertugrul. According to Mahmud al-Kashgari - the 11th-century CE Kara-Khanid scholar and lexicographer of the Turkic languages - the Doger Tribe was the eighteenth biggest tribe among the Oghuz tribes.
The character Artuk Bey in Dirilis: Ertugrul is without doubt the most prominent of characters who later joins the Kayi Tribe. He appears in Season 2 as the head doctor of the tribe of Haymana’s brother: Korkut Bey of the Dodurga Tribe (Dodurga Obasi), and possessed extensive knowledge of medicine and healing.
(Though fictional) Artuk Bey then allies with Ertugrul particularly after they both realise that they were acquainted with the secretive Turkish organisation called “White Beards” (this organisation is apparently a real one in history and played an important role behind the scenes in the establishment of the Ottoman state).
Artuk Bey later leaves the Dodurga Tribe to join the part of the Kayi Tribe that migrated to the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) border and is a constant until the end of the series.
The actual/historical Artuk Bey (full name: Zaheer-ul-Daulah Artuk Bey) was an 11th century commander of the Great Seljuk Empire (Great Seljuk Sultanate) and participated in the famous Battle of Manzikert against the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) in the year 1071 CE, under the leadership of the legendary Seljuk Sultan: Muhammad Alp Arslan.
This Seljuk victory over the Romans (Byzantines) is considered the moment that allowed the Turks entry into Anatolia/Asia Minor. (A film on this battle was made in Turkey with the actor playing Turgut Alp in Resurrection: Ertugrul playing the role of Alp Arslan, whilst the recent series Uyanis Buyuk Selcuklu and Alparlsan Buyuk Selcuklu depicting both Sultan Malik-Shah I (son of Alp Arslan) and Sultan Alp Arslan respectively).
Ironically, Artuk Bey was also instrumental in defeating Suleiman ibn Qutulmish (also known as Suleiman Shah I/Kutalmışoğlu Süleyman Şah/Kutalmışoğlu Suleiman) in the year 1086 CE in a battle between Süleyman and Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I (son of Sultan Alp Arslan), after Suleiman declared his own independent Seljuk state (Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate). (Note: The Seljuk State split into many factions in the year 1092 CE after the death of Sultan Malikshāh I with Suleiman’s son, Kılıç Arslan I (Kilic Arslan I/Kilij Arslan I) re-establishing the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate/Sultanate of Rûm in the same year).
Depiction of Kilic Arslan I in the Turkish series Uyanis Buyuk Selcuklu
Moreover, Artuk Bey also known as "Son of Eksük" or Ibn Eksuk, later became the Seljuk Governor of Jerusalem in the year 1085 CE, after he was granted Al Quds (Jerusalem) as a tax collector (iqta) by the aforementioned Tutush I, who was the Seljuq Emir of Damascus between 1078 and 1092 CE and thereafter Seljuq Sultan of Damascus from 1092 to 1094 CE (& brother of Seljuk Sultan Malik-Shah I).
Artuk Bey ruled as Governor of Jerusalem for 6 years until his death in 1091 CE. His grave is said to be in a tomb in the compound of Masjid Al Aqsa near the Gate of al-Dawadariya or Bab al-'Attam /Gate of Darkness, now known today as the Gate of King Faisal (King Faisal I of Iraq).*
* King Faisal I of Iraq was the third son of Sharif Hussein (Hussein ibn Ali), the Emir of Makkah under the Ottomans, (and they both were descendants of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) who later revolted against the Ottomans (the so-called Arab Revolt) in the early 20th century, on the eventual false promises given to them by the British Empire.
The Dynasty named after Artuk Bey
Not much is known is about the actual Artuk Bey’s personal life with his date of birth being unknown as well as details about his wider family. We know that he had two sons by the names of Sökmen (also known was Muineddin Sokman/Muʿīn ad-Dīn Soqman/Soqman ibn Ortoq) and Ilghazi I (Najm ad-Din Ilghazi ibn Artuq) who both - 11 years after Artuk passed away (1102 CE) - later went on to found the Artuqid Dynasty/Artuklu Beyliği {sometimes also spelled as Artukid, Ortoqid or Ortokid} which they named after him.
The dynasty ruled over parts of southeastern Anatolia, northern Mesopotamia, and modern-day Syria during the 11th and 12th centuries common era (CE) and they were separated into different branches:
View of Mardin by Daily Sabah
The citadel of Aleppo pictured in 1993 CE. Photograph by Frederic Soltan/Sygma/Corbis
The decline of the Artukid dynasty began in the late 12th century, with increasing pressure from neighboring dynasties such as the Ayyubids, the Seljuks of Rum and of course, the Mongols.
Despite not lasting for a significant period of time, they left many architectural contributions including the construction of mosques/masjids, madrasas, and fortresses. Notable examples include the Great Mosque of Mardin commissioned by Qutb ad-din Ilghazi/Ilghazi II (son of Artuk Bey) and the Malabadi Bridge commissioned by Husam al-Din Timurtash of Mardin (son of Ilghazi II and grandson of Artuk Bey).
On January 24 2022 CE, the actor Ayberk Percan who played the role of Artuk Bey in Dirilis Ertugrul passed away from lung cancer. May Allah forgive him of his shortcomings and grant him the highest stages of Jannah (Paradise). Aameen.
And Allah knows best.
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