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The Corpus of Seljuk Sources

SELJUK HISTORY IS BEING REWRITTEN KONYA – The historical heritage of the Seljuk Empire, one of the most deep-rooted civilizations of the Turkish and Islamic world, is being brought to light through a massive scientific project conducted under the auspices of the Presidency. The layout and printing of the "Seljuk Sources Corpus Publishing R&D Project" (Selçuklu Kaynakları Külliyatı Yayın AR-GE Projesi) are being undertaken by KÜLTÜR A.Ş., a subsidiary of Konya Metropolitan Municipality. In terms of content and scope, this initiative stands out as the third-largest study ever conducted in this field worldwide. Primary Sources of History Brought Together for the First Time Based in the ancient capital of Konya, the project focuses on first-hand primary sources penned between the 11th and 14th centuries in the Seljuk geography in Persian, Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Greek, Georgian, and Latin. Carried out by a large team of expert academics and translators, the project publishes the original texts of these historical works alongside their Turkish translations, presenting them together for the benefit of the scientific community. The corpus establishes an unparalleled resource pool not only for historians but also for all researchers and postgraduate students working in other fields of social sciences. Project Timeline and Academic Leadership The project commenced on January 6, 2025, and is scheduled for completion on January 6, 2028. The project management and chief editorship are led by Prof. Dr. Aydın Usta (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University), Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Hacıgökmen (Selçuk University), Prof. Dr. Mustafa Akkuş (Necmettin Erbakan University), and Prof. Dr. Zehra Odabaşı (Selçuk University). Dozens of competent academics from various universities across Turkey are also contributing to the project as language editors, translators, and advisory board members. International Distribution and Digital Access Within the scope of the project, hundreds of fundamental sources and documents are being prepared for publication, including the famous Anonymous Seljukname, Ahmed Eflâkî’s Menâkıbu’l-Ârifîn, the works of Rumi, as well as Byzantine, Armenian, Syriac, and Latin chronicles. The published volumes will be sent to all universities, research centers, and state and municipal libraries across the country, as well as to relevant institutions abroad, thereby filling a major academic gap. The corpus will also be made accessible to researchers in digital formats where necessary. The final outcomes of the project will be announced to the global public through a comprehensive, wide-participation international launch meeting to be held upon completion. In this way, the process of Anatolia becoming a Turkish homeland and the global recognition of the Seljuk civilization will be elevated to the highest level.