battle battle fought byzantine_empire august near modern turkey decisive defeat byzantine army capture played important role byzantine authority armenia allowed gradual battle borne professional soldiers eastern western large numbers mercenaries fled early survived battle fallout disastrous byzantines resulting civil conflicts economic crisis severely weakened byzantine_empire ability adequately defend borders led mass movement turks central area square kilometres gained took decades internal strife restored stability byzantium says crushed imperial army battle eastern asia minor historians longer consider utterly reversal greeks setback time history byzantine emperor prisoner muslim commander background byzantine_empire remained strong powerful middle ages began decline reign militarily incompetent constantine brief year period reform merely delayed decay byzantine army constantine byzantines came contact attempted annex armenian capital constantine truce lasted took rest armenia followed took power military reforms entrusted nephew lead expedition captured syria thwarted turkish attack counter attack defeated captured despite success quick seek peace treaty byzantines signed saw egypt main enemy desire diverted unnecessary hostilities february sent envoys renew treaty keen secure northern flank attack happily agreed abandoning siege immediately led army attack peace treaty deliberate distraction led large army armenia recover lost fortresses time respond prelude accompanying emperor rival army consisted professional byzantine troops western provinces probably number eastern provinces norman mercenaries bulgarian mercenaries infantry duke contingent georgian armenian troops total men quantity provincial troops declined years prior government diverted funding mercenaries judged likely involved politics disbanded use save money march long difficult troops bringing luxurious baggage train local population suffered mercenaries obliged dismiss expedition rested river reaching june generals suggested continuing march territory catching ready including suggested wait position decided continue march thinking away coming marched expecting retake quickly nearby fortress possible area allies cavalry scouts knew exactly completely unaware opponent movements ordered general regular troops accompany rest army marched split forces half taking men unknown happened army sent according islamic sources smashed army roman sources mention encounter whilst suggests fled sight sultan unlikely event considering reputation roman general way army reduced half planned men battle summoned army delivered speech appearing white islamic funeral morning battle encouraging message ready die battle unaware loss continued easily captured august responded heavy incursions day foraging parties discovered army forced retreat armenian general sent cavalry believe army cavalry destroyed taken prisoner drew troops formation sent left wing surrounded quickly approaching turks forced retreat forces hid nearby hills night making nearly impossible counterattack august mercenaries came contact deserted rejected peace embassy wanted settle eastern question persistent incursions settlements decisive military victory understood raising army difficult expensive emperor attempted recall longer area engagements day august byzantine army gathered proper battle formation began march turkish positions left wing right wing centre emperor moment turkish soldier said sultan enemy army approaching said replied approaching led reserve forces rear mistake considering organized crescent formation kilometres away attacked byzantines drew closer centre crescent continually moved backwards wings moved surround byzantine troops byzantines held arrow attacks captured camp end afternoon right left wings arrows damage broke individual units tried force pitched battle cavalry simply challenged classic hit run tactics warriors avoiding battle forced order withdrawal time night fell right wing misunderstood order rival deliberately ignored emperor marched camp outside covering emperor retreat byzantines thoroughly confused seized opportunity attacked byzantine right wing immediately routed thinking betrayed army turkish fact flee managed away contrast turkish remained loyal end sources suggest armenian infantry resisting turning tail abandon emperor saw armenian foot soldiers displayed great affection promised rewards end emperor personal troops armenian foot soldiers suffered numerous casualties byzantine army left wing held little longer soon routed remnants byzantine centre including emperor encircled injured taken prisoner survivors fled field pursued night dawn professional core byzantine army destroyed whilst peasant troops command fled emperor conducted presence sultan refused believe man covered dirt mighty emperor romans discovering identity placed boot emperor neck forced kiss ground famous conversation reported taken place brought prisoner kill exhibit streets constantinople punishment far heavier forgive set free treated considerable kindness offered terms peace offered prior battle according presence blamed raids byzantine territory muslim territories eventually led remained captive sultan week time sultan allowed eat table whilst concessions agreed surrendered left vital core untouched payment million gold pieces demanded sultan ransom deemed high sultan reduced short term expense asking million gold pieces initial payment instead followed annual sum gold pieces plus marriage alliance prepared son daughter sultan gave presents escort route constantinople shortly return subjects found rule trouble despite attempts raise loyal troops defeated times battle family deposed blinded exiled island died soon result infection caused injury brutal final foray worked hard defend public humiliation aftermath long term strategic byzantium means massacre historians earlier presumed modern scholars estimate byzantine losses relatively low considering units survived battle intact fighting months byzantine prisoners war later released certainly commanders byzantine emperor survived took later events battle directly change balance power byzantines ensuing civil war byzantine_empire advantage escaped casualties quickly marched constantinople led coup proclaimed lost men rout wing pursue fleeing byzantines recapture point byzantine army marched joined released week later loss emperor extravagant baggage train result disastrous defeat simplest terms loss says trilogy byzantine_empire defeat death blow centuries remained remnant fell themes literally heart empire decades gone smaller book short history byzantium describes battle greatest disaster suffered empire seven half centuries existence sir history noted battle decisive disaster byzantine history byzantines historians refer day writing decades actual battle wrote fortunes sunk lowest armies east dispersed directions turks spread gained command countries black_sea syrian seas mediterranean_sea bays especially wash mediterranean_sea years decades later came seen disaster empire later sources greatly numbers troops number casualties byzantine historians look lament disaster day moment decline empire began immediate disaster defeat showed byzantines invincible millennium old byzantines called politically empire difficult organize resistance turkish followed battle despite traditional view historians wave turkish immigration overran decades followed modern genetic studies additional centuries immigration population today small central asian heritage conquest appears installing new political elite finally intrigue deposition emperors taken place fate particularly horrific caused empire centuries followed battle chain events battle link undermined empire years come included throne fate attempting independent kingdom norman german mercenaries defeated emperor uncle come suppress advancing capital destroy asian coast empire finally turned spreading crush turks wife young general pursued captured events interacted create vacuum turks filled choice establishing capital possibly explained desire empire struggles present new opportunities byzantine contemporary historians unanimous dating decline byzantine fortunes battle writes byzantine defeat severely limited power byzantines denying control major recruiting ground soldiers henceforth muslims controlled region byzantine_empire limited area immediately constantinople byzantines military force interpreted root causes later crusade originally western response byzantine emperor military assistance loss perspective west saw signal byzantium longer capable protector christian pilgrims middle_east considers importance battle exaggerated evidence makes clear resulted empire unable effective army field years come known compared pivotal point decline byzantine_empire battles separated years expansive byzantine army ambushed elusive opponent implications initially limited thanks holding power said enemies courageous upright man result empire recover
Battle of Manzikert