These days, the ancient Iranian city of Rey has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. The ancient capital of the Seljuks — a Turkic dynasty that greatly contributed to the rich Turco-Iranian tradition — is now a suburb of the metropolis of Tehran. It is mostly associated with the Shah Abdol Azim shrine, one of the most venerated Shiite sanctuaries in the Tehran area. However, its other key landmark, Borj-e Tughrul (“Tower of Tughrul” in Persian), still stands strong.
Tughrul Beg, the founder of the Seljuk dynasty, declared independence from the Ghaznavids in 1037/1038 CE. Along with his brother Chaghri, he established control over Western Khorasan, northeastern modern-day Iran. Remembered as saving Nishapur from plunder, he established Rey as his capital in 1043. Tughrul led raiding bands as far as modern Iraq and effectively ended Buyid domination in Abbasid Baghdad, and was ultimately declared sultan of Baghdad by the Abbasid caliph.
