Seljuks of Iraq...um Iran?

**Toho** · May 04, 2011, 02:35 PM

why are the blue seljuks called the seljuks of Iraq when they are clearly in Iran, while searching i found this there is no mention of an Iraqi seljuk...and more interestingly aren't the Abbassids in Iraq?

very confused here...

**Tureuki** · May 04, 2011, 02:43 PM

The region is called Iraq-i Ajem(Persian Iraq)

**wudang_clown** · May 04, 2011, 03:46 PM

As Tureuki said.

There were two regions distinguished then, Iraq-i Arab (Mesopotamia) and Iraq-i Ajam (or Iraq Ajami; also called Jibal).

**Toho** · May 04, 2011, 03:55 PM

oh...so did you guys call them Seljuks of Iraq because historically that place was referred to as Iraq? or because historically these people were referred as such? i know wikipedia is not a 100% accurate source but most of the time they get it right.
and another thing since there are 2 Iraqs (Arab and Ajami) then why not call them Seljuks of Ajami/Jibal. it is just weird (imo) to call the Iraqi when obviously they are not there XD

**wudang_clown** · May 04, 2011, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Toho

oh...so did you guys call them Seljuks of Iraq because historically that place was referred to as Iraq? or because historically these people were referred as such? i know wikipedia is not a 100% accurate source but most of the time they get it right.

Wikipedia refers to that branch as Seljuks of Hamadan, and Hamadan was in Iraq-i Ajam. There is no contradiction between our "Seljuks of Iraq" and Wikipedia stuff, if that concerns you so much.

Originally Posted by Toho

and another thing since there are 2 Iraqs (Arab and Ajami) then why not call them Seljuks of Ajami/Jibal. it is just weird (imo) to call the Iraqi when obviously they are not there XD

It was just explained that in medieval times there were two Iraqs. So, obviously they are in what was called Iraq. And obviously they can't be named "Persian Seljuks", because they were not rulers of whole Persia, but of Iraq-i Ajam (and even that not wholly).

**Dago Red** · May 05, 2011, 11:36 AM

I think it's an imperfect name for an imperfect, complicated situation, though wisely chosen based on known historical facts. They went through a long discussion about it here in public and the name evolved as more considerations were made. I can't recall why Seljuk's of Hamadan was abandoned (but if it's on wikipedia that holds no weight for me at all. It should be only a guide, a starting point. You can't rely on it for real facts. Something is always left out).