Manzikert

The Battle of Manzikert was a battle that occured on the 26th of August 1071 at Manzikert, Byzantine Armenia (Modern day Turkey). The battle was fought between the Seljuq Turks, led by Alp Arslan, and the Byzantine Empire. This great battle resulted in the Byzantine Empire suffering a humiliating defeat and resulted in the capture of the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV. The battle also paved the way for the domination of Anatolia and helped nourish the Byzanitne appeal for aid which gave birth to the first crusade.



Who was involved in the battle?
The battle was fought between the Seljuk Turks and the Byzantine Empire.

The Seljuk Turks, also known as The House of Seljuq, were a powerful dynasty that ruled areas of Central Asia and The Middle East between the 11th and 14th centuries. At the time of the battle, the Seljuk Turks were led by Alp Arslan, the Sultan of Baghdad were attempting to form an empire made up of modern day Syria, Iran and Turkey. The Seljuk army during the battle was made up entirely of Turkish cavalry which included many archers.

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, were a vast and powerful empire that ruled most of the Eastern world from the 4th century to the 15th century. At the time of the battle the Byzantines were led by the Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes. The Byzantine army during the battle was made up of many Byzantine natives such as the Armenians, Syrians and the Emperor's prestigious Varangian Guard. The army was also made up of many mercenaries of many nationalities such as the Frankish, German, Norman, Turkish along with some elite mounted units and heavy cavalry.

What was the style of fighting?
The Byzantine emperor Romanos was so sure of himself and the abilities of his army commander, that he kept going to Manzikert even after some of his generals suggested they wait there and fortify their position, but some of his other generals suggested continuing the march into Seljuk territory and catching Arslan before he was ready, but the Seljuk turks had fast moving men so the Byzantine army could not catch up to the turks even if they ran. Eventually it was decided to continue the march.

What were the broader affects of the battle?
The Battle of Manzikert was an absolute catastrophe for the future of the Byzantine Empire but the biggest affect the battle had on the future was that it would help give birth to the crusades.

Byzantium fell into a steady decline during the period after the battle. The Seljuk Turks continued to travel into Byzantine territory after the battle and the Turks would attack villages and provinces where they would kill and loot goods from the empty buildings. The Seljuk Turks then conquered the Byzantine region of Anatolia, which had acted as a recruiting ground for Byzantine soldiers and one of Byzantium's most proseprous areas. It became evident that the decline of the Byzantine Empire was slowly taking place and the Byzantine's were forced to call for aid.

Alexios I Komnenos was the Byzantine emperor at the time of all the chaos in Byzantium. He called for aid from the west in ridding the threat of the Seljuk Turks. The west did not interpret this as the Byzantine's may have hoped, instead they interpreted it as a sign that the forces of the east were no longer fit to protect the holy lands. Pope Urban II then called a crusade to take back the holy land of Jerusalem. The Battle of Manzikert is a critical moment in time for the crusades as without it the events that have passed would not have taken place. The Battle helped inspire the call for aid and the chaos that ensued within Byzantium. The broader affects of this Battle can not be understated as its broader affects are beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined.

Book Sources:
Black J 2005, //The Seventy Great Battles of All Time,// Thames & Hudson, London Windrow M & Mason.K F 2000, //The World's Greatest Military Leaders//, Grange Books, Kent

Internet Sources:
[] []