Battle of Manzikert

The Battle of Manzikert (Turkish: Malazgirt Meydan Muharebesi ) was fought between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuq Turks on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert (modern Malazgirt in Muş Province, Turkey). 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.

The brunt of the battle was borne by the professional soldiers from the eastern and western tagmata, as large numbers of mercenaries and Anatolian levies fled early and survived the battle. 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. 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. Historian Thomas Asbridge says: "In 1071, the Seljuqs crushed an imperial army at the Battle of Manzikert (in eastern Asia Minor), and though historians no longer consider this to have been an utterly cataclysmic reversal for the Greeks, it still was a stinging setback." It was the first time in history a Byzantine Emperor had become the prisoner of a Muslim commander.

Battle of Manzikert (1915)

The Battle of Manzikert or Battle of Malazgirt (Russian: Битва при Манцикерте Vytva pri Mantsikerte ;Turkish: Malazgirt Muharebesi) was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I, in July 10–26, 1915. Even though losses were heavy on both sides, the Russians retreated north and the Turks retook Manzikert then they further advanced towards Karakilise where they were defeated on 5-8 August at the Battle of Kara Killisse.

Background

At the beginning of May the Russians captured Tutak and on 17 May the town of Manzikert was captured.

Operations

On July 10, 1915, Russian General Oganovski launched an offensive to capture the hills just west of Manzikert. He believed that the Turkish forces in the area were weak. However the Turkish forces contained several divisions numbering upwards of 40,000 men which was not known to the Russians. On July 16, the Ottoman Army counter-attacked under Abdul Kerim Pasha. They outnumbered the Russians by a factor of 3-1. Oganovski was forced to retreat back to Manzikert, and in the process the Turks captured his baggage train. On July 20, the Turks retook Manzikert and on 27 July Mush from the Russians. Due to the bad quality of the Russian communications, Yudenich, who was the Russian commander of the Caucasus front, did not learn that the Russian army was in retreat until July 22.

Battle of Manzikert (1054)

The Battle of Manzikert in 1054 was a successful defense of the city of Manzikert by Byzantine forces under Basil Apocapes against the Seljuk Turks led by sultan Toğrül. Seventeen years later, the Turks would experience greater success against Romanus Diogenes under Alp Arslan at the same place.

Coordinates: 39°N 32°E / 39°N 32°E / 39; 32