After Manzikert: Turks Expand, Byzantines Shrink

BOB REIS

Manzikert is the old name for Malazgirt in eastern Anatolia, not too far from Armenia and Iran. The Seljuk Turks, substantially in control of all Iraq, Iran, western Afghanistan, and points north, had been raiding into Byzantine Anatolia during the 11th century. Raiding is different from conquering. Raiders come and commit mayhem and then leave. Conquerors come, commit mayhem, and stay. The Byzantine Emperor, Romanus IV, had been opposing the Seljuk Sultan, Alp Arslan, with mixed success at best. Romanus was a military man. He was something of a protégé of one of the powerful Byzantine families, the Dukas clan. The Empress dowager (Dukas) told him they would marry, and thus it came to pass. His elevation alienated other large families who schemed. There was also the matter that the…

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World Coin News (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 2024

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