Thread by @YeniceriQ

The Battle of Manzikert: Seljuq Turks dominance expands into Asia Minor (Anatolia)! [Thread]

The Battle of Manzikert was fought between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Empire on 26 August 1071 near Manzikert (Malazgirt Turkey). 1️⃣

The decisive defeat of the Byzantine army and the capture of the Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes played an important role in undermining Byzantine authority in Anatolia and Armenia, and allowed for the gradual Turkification of Anatolia. 2️⃣

The fallout from Manzikert was disastrous for the Byzantines, resulting in civil conflicts and an economic crisis that severely weakened the Byzantine Empire's ability to adequately defend its borders. And hence Turkish raids continued to harrass the weakened Byzantium. 3️⃣

This led to the mass movement of Turks into central Anatolia—by 1080, an area of 78,000 square kilometres (30,000 sq mi) had been gained by the Seljuk Turks. It took three decades of internal strife before Alexius I (1081 to 1118) restored stability to Byzantium.4️⃣

It was the first & only time in history a Byzantine emperor had become the prisoner of Muslims. Alp Arslan summoned his army & delivered a speech by appearing in a white robe similar to an Islamic funeral shroud in the morning of the battle to show he was ready for martyrdom. 5️⃣

When Emperor Romanos was brought in the court of Alp Arslan, Sultan refused to believe that the bloodied & tattered man covered in dirt was the Emperor of the Romans. After discovering his identity, Alp Arslan placed his boot on Emperor's neck & forced him to kiss the ground.6️⃣

A famous conversation is also reported to have taken place:

Alp Arslan: "What would you do if I were brought before you as a prisoner?"

Romanos: "Perhaps I'd kill you, or exhibit you in the streets of Constantinople." 7️⃣

Alp Arslan: "My punishment is far heavier. I forgive you, and set you free."

Alp Arslan treated Romanos with considerable kindness and again offered the terms of peace that he had offered prior to the battle.8️⃣

In his smaller book, A Short History of Byzantium, Norwich describes the battle as "the greatest disaster suffered by the Empire in its seven and a half centuries of existence". 9️⃣

Sir Steven Runciman, in his "History of the Crusades", noted that "The Battle of Manzikert was the most decisive disaster in Byzantine history. The Byzantines themselves had no illusions about it. Again and again their historians refer to that dreadful day." 🔟

Sources:

Barber, Malcolm. The Crusader States Yale University Press Page 9

Norwich, John Julius (1997). A Short History of Byzantium.

Peoples, R. Scott (2013) Crusade of Kings Wildside Press LLC, 2008. p. 13