Sultanate of Rum

Lore & Background

After his death, civil war ensued. The sultanate reached its height under Kaykhusraw I, Kaykaus I, and Kayqubad I in the early 13th century, capturing Mediterranean and Black Sea ports and developing trade via caravanserai.

Reader's Guide

The Sultanate of Rum holds significance as the first Turkish state established in Anatolia, marking the beginning of Turkish history in the region. Its legacy includes the development of trade routes through Anatolia via caravanserai and strong ties with the Genoese. The dissolution of the sultanate left behind many small Anatolian beyliks, among them the Ottoman dynasty, which eventually reunited Anatolia and became the Ottoman Empire. Thus, the Sultanate of Rum is a crucial precursor to the Ottoman state and a key chapter in the history of Anatolia and the broader Islamic world.

Did You Know?

• The name Rum derives from the Aramaic and Parthian names for ancient Rome, referring to the medieval Roman Empire and its peoples.
• The Sultanate of Rum reached its height during the late 12th and early 13th century, taking key Byzantine ports on the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
• The sultanate developed trade through Anatolia from Iran and Central Asia using a system of caravanserai.