ABSTRACT
The history of the Seljuqid period is not only that of one dynasty replacing other dynasties, but that of a new peopling constituted to a great extent by Turcomans, and the characteristics which this fact imposes on the structure of society and state, even on the policies pursued by princes. For Aqsonqor, brought up from his youth with Malik-Shah, could well be an Avshar, which would confirm the presence of Avshar among the Turcomans led by Tughril-Beg and Alp-Arslan. In 1069, a brother-in-law of Tughril-Beg, of uncertain name himself, Erisighi or Erisghen, chief of the Navuki, took refuge in Anatolia, and ultimately, tracked down, entered Byzantine service. Soon afterwards, a group of Navuki, under the leadership of the Khwarizmian Atsiz b. Uvaq, marched into Palestine, where Atsiz was to take control of Jerusalem, then of Damascus, but was subsequently eliminated.
