History of War – October 2019

MANZIKERT

n the lake and the towering 14,000-foot

theSuphan Dag.

of the vanguards

August Romanos led his army east to

Manzikert and Ahlat by force of arms.

yzantine Army approached Manzikert in

e, Romanos dispatched Norman General

deBailleul with a strong vanguard

p of Norman, Frankish, and German

mento forage for supplies and to probe

nces of Ahlat. The vanguard, which

d 30miles ahead of the main body, ran

g into the Seljuk advance guard. Caught

se,Roussel’s men found that part

eljukforce had moved behind it, thus

offtheir retreat north to rejoin the main

hecowardly Rousel, who had no intention

g hislife in a skirmish, led his men east

h of a friendly fortress.

August Romanos's army reached

ish-held fortress at Manzikert. After

hinga fortified camp south of the town,

s ordered his Armenian infantry to

hetown. The Seljuk garrison holding the

surrendered the following day.

arrison’s surrender on 23 August

great rejoicing in the Byzantine camp.

indications that the garrison at Ahlat

n heavily reinforced, Romanos was

warethat Arslan had arrived at Ahlat.

Byzantine emperor was so confident

uccess that he sent 12,000 of his men

eorgia to assist the Christians in the

casus against the Seljuks.

rslanwas not as confident as Romanos.

eed,he was overawed by the Byzantine

w of power outside of Manzikert. In an

mptto avoid a pitched battle with the

es,the Seljuk sultan sent Abbasid

t Ibnal-Muhalban on 25 August to

e with the Byzantine emperor. Al-

anand several other emissaries arrived

yzantine camp two days after the

er of Manzikert. He informed Romanos

n was nearby and wished to negotiate

omanos believed that his large army

h the Seljuks in a pitched battle, and

urposely rebuffed the dignitary.

s deliberately humiliated al-Muhalban

g himto bow and kiss the ground in

s chair, which served as a makeshift

manos sent him back to Arslan with

bledemands. Romanos would only

f Arslan took a solemn oath to never

pass on Byzantine territory.

ntoambush

rning of 26 August, the Byzantine

editself for battle south of Manzikert.

Attaliates commanded the right wing,

omanos IV Diogenes led the centre,

phoros Bryennios commanded the

. Thetwo wings of the front rank were
edof Anatolian infantry battalions and
squadrons. The centre division led by
s was composed of the best of the
e cavalry, as well as Varangian and
n heavy infantry. The reserve was
d to Andronikos Ducas. Romanos
edhim, so for that reason he put him
e hoped he would do the least amount

between

peakoft

Clash

In earlyA

recoverM

As theB

lateJune

Roussel

madeup

cavalrym

thedefe

operated

headlong

bysurpri

of theSe

cuttingo

force.Th

of risking

in search

On 2 2

theTurk

establish

Romano

stormth

citadels

Thega

sparked

Despite

hadbeen

unaw

Thee

ofs

toG

Cau

Ar

Indee

show

attem

Byzantin

diplomat

negotiate

Muhalba

at theBy

surrende

thatArsl

left wing

compose

cavalrys

Romano

Byzantin

Armeninna

entruste

distruste

wherehe

ofharm.

his palacebodyguards

andtheArmenian foot

soldierswhoforma wall

ofshieldsaroundhim.

Afterthewallispierced,

Romanoswadesintothe

enemyranksonhishorse.

Afterslaying severalTurks,

heisunhorsedandtaken

beforetheSeljuksultan.

counterattack,Romanosorders

histroopsto aboutfaceand

counterattackthe enemy,but

onlythetwodivisionsremaining

in thefrontlineobey his

command.AndronicusDucas,

whodespisesRomanos,orders

therearguardto withdrawin

orderto sabotageRomo anus.

.R

ush

ep

no

ing

his

Rom

na

wif

esp

in

mor

aye

eA

Ro

eph

withhim

couldcru

therefore

Roma

by order

frontofh

throne,R

unreaso

withdraw

again tre

Lured

On them

armyarr

Theodore

Emperor

andNike

08

ROMANOS'

DEFENCE

Rommanosis protectedby

hi l b d d

07

ROMANOSHALTS

WITHDRAWAL

ObservingtheTurkish

l

06

ALPARSLAN'S

COUNTERATTACK

SultanAlpArslanpreparesto

launcha counterattackagainst

theByzantinecentre.Hedonshis

helmetandmailcoif,knotsthe

tailof hishorsesoit cannotbe

grabbedin battle,andexchanges

hisbowfora swordandmace.

Oncehehascompletedhis

preparationsforclosecombat,

heleadshiseliteheavycavalry

againstRomanos’sdivision.

“ARSLAN’S TACTIC THAT

DAY CONSISTED OF LURING

THE BYZANTINES INTO A

GRAND AMBUSH. ONCE

HIS MOUNTED BOWMEN

HAD WEAKENED THE

BYZANTINES, HE PLANNED

TO COUNTERATTACK”

02

01

03

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