Alp Arslan
/alp aɾsɫan/
proper noun
Origin
Old Turkic
Alp + Arslan — Brave/Hero + Lion
Overview
Meaning Now
- A title and regnal name given to the second Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire, whose birth name was Muhammad bin Dawud Chaghri.
Literal older meaning
Heroic Lion
Language path
Old Turkic → Middle Turkic → Turkish
Earliest form
Alp Arslan
Earliest period
11th century
Journey
Alp Arslan was instrumental in consolidating the Seljuk Empire and is most famous for his decisive victory over the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, which opened the path for Turkic migration into Anatolia.
Evolution
- Old Turkic
Alp
“Brave, hero, warrior”
Common honorific for Turkic nobility.
- Old Turkic
Arslan
“Lion”
Symbol of power and courage in Central Asian cultures.
- 11th century
Alp Arslan
“Heroic Lion”
Name adopted by Muhammad bin Dawud for his martial prowess.
Connections
Word parts
Alp
root
Brave, hero
Arslan
root
Lion
Related across languages
Turkmen
Heroic Lion
Azerbaijani
Heroic Lion
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.