After the battles of Pasinler in 1048 and Malazgirt in 1071 Turks founded a number of states in Anatolia. These were the vassals of Great Seljuk Empire. In fact one of the most powerful of these vassal states had been founded by a member of Seljuk house and the name of this state was the Sultanate of Rum.
The founder of the state was Süleyman I. Paternal grandfathers of the sultan Melik Shah of Great Seljuk Empire and Suleyman I were brothers. But soon, the Seljuks of Rûm began to act independently of the Great Seljuk Empire and annexed the territories of other Turkish states in Anatolia. Their history is notable for:
They were adversaries of the first three Crusades.
Ottoman principality, the future Ottoman Empire emerged within their realm.
Suleyman I is appointed as a governor in Seljuk possessions in Anatolia, but he acts independently and founds a state.
1081
Suleyman takes control of Nicaea (modern İznik, Bursa Province) after supporting the rebellion of Nikephoros Melissenos, making the city his capital. Suleyman then makes a treaty with Alexios Komnenos who acknowledges his reign and both decide on the river Draco as a border river. At the same time, Tzachas an independent Turkmen bey (not a member of Seljuk house, but the father in law of Kılıç Arslan I) founds a principality in Smyrna, (modern İzmir), being the first Turkmen to content for the Aegean Sea.
1084
Conquest of Antioch (modern Antakya) by Suleyman. At the same time, another Turkmen warlord named Elchanes takes control of Apollonias and Kyzikios.
1086
Suleyman I tries to add Syria to his realm, but is defeated by his cousin Tutush I in the Battle of Ain Salm, Syria. His appointed governor of Nicaea, Abu'l-Qasim, takes control of the realm and tries unsuccessfully to expand the realm but he has to content with punitive expeditions under Bozan send by the Great Seljuk Sultan Malik Shah.
1092
Kılıç Arslan I escapes prison after the death of Malik Shah in November 1092 and claims Nicaea and the sultanate from Poulchanes, the brother of Abu'l-Qasim. He reigns until his death in 1107.
1094/1095
Kılıç Arslan I murders his father-in-law Tzachas at a banquet.
Kılıç Arslan conquers Musul, Iraq, but is defeated in the battle.
1110
Şahinşah (1107–1116) (also called Melikşah, not to be confused with the sultan of Great Seljuk Empire with the same name) Continuous struggle with the Crusades weakens the state.
1116
Mesut I (1116–1156) During the early years of his reign he has to accept the dominance of Danishmends a rival Turkish state in Anatolia.
1142
Mehmed of Danishmends dies and the Sultanate of Rum becomes the leading power of Anatolia for the second time.
Sadettin Köpek the vizier of the inexperienced sultan who has executed some members of Seljuk house and becomes the de facto ruler of the sultanate is killed.
1239
Revolt of Baba Ishak. A revolt of Turkmen (Oguz) and Harzem refugees who have recently arrived in Anatolia. The revolt is suppressed. But the sultanate loses power.
Bayju of Mongols defeats Keyhüsrev II in the battle of Kösedağ, Eastern Anatolia. From now on, the sultanate is a vassal of Ilkhanids.
1246
Keykavus II (1246–1262) Governs together with his two brothers. But the real ruler is vizierPervâne who has married to late sultan's widow Gürcü Hatun.
Karamanoğlu Mehmed Bey conquers Konya and enthrones his puppet Jimri. But Ilkhanids intervene and reestablish Keyhüsrev's reign. (During his short stay in Konya Mehmed Bey declares Turkish as the official language in his realm).