James Baquet Wars are often characterized as between countries, or empires. But as we’ve seen with the Crusades, and the wars in Spain, they are also often between religions. From the Middle East and westward, these were often Christian vs. Muslim. Such is the case with the Battle of Manzikert, which also happened to be empire vs. empire. In it, the Byzantine Empire — heir to Rome as the center of Christianity — faced the Seljuk Empire. The Seljuks were a Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire; at one point they controlled land from Turkey to the Afghan-Pakistan border, and from Central Asia in the north down to the Persian Gulf. But at the time when the two empires met at Manzikert (now in eastern Turkey), Turkey was still in Byzantine hands; the capital, Byzantium — also known as Constantinople — is modern Istanbul, in Turkey. The armies were of nearly equal size after some 20,000 or so mercenaries deserted the Byzantine troops; some even defected to the Turkish side. Despite their fairly equal sizes, the Seljuks effected a decisive victory, partly because of their use of hit and run tactics typical of warriors of the steppes. The Seljuk Sultan, Muhammad bin Dawud Chaghri, was better known as Alp Arslan, Turkish for “Heroic Lion.” When the Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV was captured and brought into Alp Arslan’s presence, he placed his boot on Romanos’ neck, and forced him to kiss the ground. Alp Arslan then allegedly asked the emperor what he would do if the tables were turned. The emperor said he would either kill the Sultan, or parade him in chains in front of the people. The Turk replied that his punishment was much heavier: “I forgive you, and set you free.” He treated the emperor with great kindness, and though he had prevailed, he offered Romanos the same terms that he had before the battle began. Though the Byzantine Empire stumbled on for a few more centuries, this loss of territory to the Turks is often considered the beginning of the end of Byzantium. Vocabulary: Which word above means: 1. usually, a grouping of kingdoms with a single ruler over all 2. reportedly, supposedly 3. won, succeeded 4. the situation were reversed 5. the start of a decline leading to failure 6. left their posts 7. typified, described 8. display, often in an abusive manner 9. hired soldiers, loyal only because of the pay 10. struggled along | 