Manzikert 1071 by David Nicolle

Author:David Nicolle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Manzikert 1071: The breaking of Byzantium
ISBN: 9781780965055
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

The northern fortifications of Manzikert (Malazgirt) town. (Author’s photograph)

The details of Alp Arslan’s movements at this point are less well known than those of the Emperor Romanos. According to Ibn al-Azraq al-Fariqi, ‘A large group of the people of Ahlat and Manzikert went down after him [Alp Arslan], informing him that the king of Byzantium had come back to the country… With them was the qadi [senior judge] of Manzikert.’ These may have been from the Saljuq garrisons or from their local militias, and it must have occurred after the Byzantine army moved out of Theodosiopolis. All the evidence points to Alp Arslan being regularly and accurately informed of Byzantine movements – perhaps even of Byzantine intentions – a stark contrast to the situation in the Byzantine camp.

The Sultan had meanwhile arranged the command structure of his army near Khoy. Rashid al-Din claimed that it numbered 15,000 cavalry (perhaps referring only to the Turks) and 5,000 ‘veteran’ infantry, naming the tribal leaders as Artuq, Saltuq, Mengücük, Danişmand, Çavlı and Çavuldur. Several would go on to found ruling dynasties of their own, so Rashid al-Din may have drawn upon heroic tradition rather than reliable reports. The Sultan may also have been joined by Kutalmiş’ sons Sulayman and Mansur, along with other Türkmen begs who had been raiding Anatolia. The size of Alp Arslan’s army before the battle of Manzikert is unknown, though it was probably half that of the Byzantine total but – more importantly – not much smaller than the force which remained with the Emperor outside Manzikert. Nishapuri naturally allows himself considerable poetic licence in his epic Saljuqnama but was probably not far off the mark when he wrote: ‘They [the victorious Saljuq army] recited the verse: “How often a little company has overcome a numerous company by God’s name.”’

1 Basilakes with substantial forces from Syria and southern Armenia, joins Emperor, bringing incorrect information about Saljuqs.

2 Letter from Leo Diabatenos informs Romanos that Alp Arslan fled from Persia to Iraq; Emperor reorganizes army for two a months campaign.

3 Romanos sends Pechenegs, closely followed by Roussel de Bailleul and Normans, towards Ahlat to seize control of the harvest.

4 Romanos heads for Manzikert with main force, mid-August.

5 Joseph Tarchaniotes is sent with up to half the army to help Roussel, probably taking direct road west of Manzikert.

6 Warning is probably sent by Manzikert garrison to Ahlat and Alp Arslan.

7 Alp Arslan and his army arrive from Khoy.

8 Alp Arslan is joined by Türkmen begs who were raiding Anatolia.

9–10 Alp Arslan is joined by a large part of garrisons and militias of Manzikert and Ahlat.

11 Route taken by Alp Arslan is unclear, but a route north of Lake Van is more likely.

12 Small Saljuq force under Sundak al-Turki hurries to strengthen Ahlat garrison.

13 Alp Arslan probably intends to strengthen garrison in Manzikert.

14 Joseph Tarchaniotes and Roussel de Bailleul are defeated outside Ahlat, Tuesday 23 August.

15 Move by Alp Arslan may have cut Joseph and Roussel off from Romanos.

16 Joseph Tarchaniotes and Roussel de Bailleul retreat to Muş, perhaps intending to rejoin the Emperor via Eastern Euphrates valley.

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