Political Participation of Khatouns in the Seljuks Government in Iran

In the early fifth century (AH), the Seljuks government was established in the East of Iran. They were Turk migrants. The Seljuks established the broadest Islamic empire due to their victory over the Ghaznavids and the Buwaihids. The participation of khatouns in power during the Seljuk period was an indicator phenomenon and its effects are seen in the historical sources. The present research, based on historical sources especially encyclopedias and political histories, seeks to answer this question: “How and in what ways the Seljuk Khatouns influenced the political body of the state?” The authors believe that the Seljuk queens had both direct and indirect roles in the state institutions, in the structure of the government and in the political and military developments. Their direct roles involved consulting the Sultans, establishing an independent organization, exerting pressure on the Seljuk kings to determine the crown and entering the political rivalry at court. Political marriages to establish diplomatic relations with the other governments was among their indirect roles.