High Middle Ages · Central Asia · Politics

1063

Nizam al-Mulk becomes Seljuk vizier

1063

The Persian statesman began his three-decade career running the Seljuk empire for Alp Arslan and then Malik Shah. His Siyasatnama, a book of statecraft studded with historical anecdotes, would become the classic Persian manual of government. He founded madrasas from Baghdad to Merv to train loyal Sunni officials. His administrative genius held together an empire that stretched from the Mediterranean to the borders of India.