Irtash

Following the death of Malik-Shah, Tutush claimed the Seljuk crown, but he was killed by the forces of his nephew Berkyaruq near Ray.

He ruled there for three months until sneaking out of the city to ally with Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, against Toghtekin, who Irtash thought was conspiring against him.

However, preoccupied with the Fatimid threat from Egypt, Baldwin did not assist Irtash and his ally Aytakin al-Halabi, the emir of Bosra.

[10] Tutush conquered Southern Syria and Palestine, capturing Jerusalem, Damascus, Acre, Tyre, Tripoli, Jaffa, and Arish, as well as the region of Galilee, previously held by Atsiz, and founded the Syrian Seljuk State.

[15][16] Tutush claimed the Seljuk throne, as he was the only surviving adult in the dynasty, though he gained little support from the Turkic elite.

[14] One of Malik-Shah I's wives, Terken Khatun,[18] who was trying to install her four-year-old son Mahmud to the throne, then attempted to reach out to Tutush, but died suddenly in 1094.

[4] The town, located north of Damascus, was a three-day ride from the city and was ruled by Fakhr al-Dawla Gümüshtegin al-Taji, one of Tutush's freed slaves.

[27] According to contemporary Muslim chronicler Ibn al-Qalanisi and modern Egyptian historian Taef Kamal Al-Azhari, Irtash was crowned on 10 October 1104.

[1][28] However, modern Turkish historian İbrahim Duman believes that to be an error, and suggests that Irtash was actually crowned on 18 September 1104.

He also argues that Toghtekin, who was opposed by many after becoming the vizier of Duqaq, sought to unite the notables of Damascus under Irtash's rule, thus aiming to maintain a strong position within the domain.

It is not known if Toghtekin brought Irtash to Damascus to have him killed, while Safwat al-Mulk may have wanted to reinstate the rulership of her grandson Tutush.

[34] The Fatimid army of ten thousand horsemen and infantry under the command of Sharaf al-Ma'ali, the son of al-Afdal Shahanshah, moved towards Ascalon.

[35][36] In the battle that took place on 27 August 1105, neither side could gain the upper hand, however, the Fatimids suffered more casualties than the Crusaders.

Contrary to this, Duman argues Baldwin sought to make the Muslim emirs even more hostile to each other and to cause turmoil in Damascus, which he had desired for a long time.

Irtash and Aytekin got wind of this, and left the Crusaders' side for Bosra, ending the three-month-long alliance.

Chavli, who was angered as he had spent too much time besieging the city, ordered his men to pillage the fort's environs.

Though he also considers the possibility of him living for many years, as he was only fifteen in 1107; though he ruled no city, nor was he in the foreground of subsequent events.