Battle of Manzikert (1071) - The Precursor to the Crusades

The Battle of Manzikert (1071) was a decisive and historical battle between the Seljuk Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Both these forces fought with their full might, which highlights the significance of this battle. It was fought in Anatolia (present-day Turkey) and ended with a comprehensive victory for the Seljuks. The defeat resulted in the military decline of the Byzantine Empire in Anatolia and the beginning of the Crusades.

Causes and Background

The Seljuk Empire was established in 1037, with its initial capital in Nishapur in today’s Iran. After establishing their control, they tried to move northwards towards Anatolia. It was a difficult time for the Byzantine Empire, which suffered few losses at the hands of the Seljuks. This resulted in a truce between the two empires in 1064. 

Seljuks and Byzantine had fought before the Battle of Manzikert

However, Romanos IV was eager to release pressure from Seljuks after becoming the Byzantine emperor in 1068. He initiated campaigns in Syria, which ultimately failed and ended with another truce with the Seljuk sultan Alp Arsalan in 1069. However, Romanos again saw an opportunity in 1071 and invaded Seljuk-controlled parts of Anatolia. The battle between the two adversaries took place near Manzikert (now Malazgirt in Turkey).

The Battle

The battle was fought in February 1071. There are various accounts about the number of both armies. The Seljuk army had between 30,000 and 50,000 members, while the number of troops in the Byzantium army was between 40,000 and 200,000. A large number of the Byzantine soldiers were conscripts and mercenaries.

Romanus entered Seljuk-held Armenia with a large force and divided his army into two parts. He entered Manzikert with the main part of his military and sent the smaller part of the army to capture the fortress of Akhlat on a nearby lake. After knowing about his ambitions, Alp Arsalan quickly arrived at Manzikert with his force. On learning of Alp’s arrival, Romanus left Manzikert and tried to unite with the other part of his army around Akhlat. In this effort, his army was confronted by Alp Arsalan in a valley. During this difficult situation, Romanus suffered another setback as many of his Turkmen mercenaries left him and joined the Seljuks. On seeing this, several conscripts and one of his generals, along with his troops, also retreated without a fight.

Now, Romanus and his elite troops were alone to defend the assault. They fought bravely but could not resist the powerful attack from emboldened Seljuks. The war ended with the assassination of the majority soldiers of Romanus and his capture. It proved to be a decisive victory for Alp Arsalan and a humiliating defeat for Romanov and the Byzantine Empire. 

Victory in the Battle of Manzikert opened the door of Anatolia for Turks

Impact

1. The battle of Manzikert was not only a defeat for the Byzantine Empire but also perished thousands of their best commanders and troops. The Byzantine emperor also became a captive. This result was a heavy military, political, and moral blow to the Empire.
2. This defeat not only halted the advances of Byzantine in Anatolia but also lost already captured areas. Alp Arsalan freed Romanus after gaining control of several positions in Anatolia from the Byzantine Empire.
3. Alp Arsalan set Romanus free after the fulfillment of his demands. Romanus was an able ruler and military commander who tried his best to regain control of Anatolia from the Seljuk Empire. However, his defeat and the ultimate result of the battle diminished his image. Upon his return, he was overthrown and killed by his political opponents in Constantinople. It was an unfortunate loss of a capable and sincere ruler.
4. This defeat miserably weakened the Byzantine Empire. It forced them to take assistance from other Christian states of Western Europe, ultimately resulting in the beginning of the Crusades.
5. Further raids by Seljuks deprived the Byzantine Empire of many parts of Anatolia in the coming decades.
6. This victory opened the doors of Anatolia for the Western Turks. It later resulted in the Turkification of this area.

Reasons for Seljuk Victory

• The battle was fought during the decline of the Byzantine Empire and the emergence of the Seljuk Empire. The Byzantine Empire was already demoralized due to political and military defeats. On the other hand, the Seljuk Empire was gaining strength after recent victories.
• There were several Turkmen mercenaries in the Byzantine army. These soldiers opted to favor Turkmen Seljuks during the battle. Their changing of loyalty during the battle proved disastrous for Romanus and the Byzantines.
• Andronicus Doukas was the commander of the forces present at the rear of the Byzantine army. He was the one who left the battlefield alongside his troops when the Turkmen joined the Seljuks. He had political differences with Romanus, which was a vital reason for his abandoning the army that resulted in the capture of Romanus.