Lecture notes
History Lecture Notes
- Module
- History
- Institution
- University College London (UCL)
Detailed lecture notes on the cause, events and outcomes of the first crusade, and more.
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Background● 2 factions of Islam formed after Mohammed’s death in 632.
○ The Sunnis took Baghdad as their capital - became the Abassid
Caliphate - believed they should have elected Caliphs.
○ The Shi’as took Cairo as capital - became the Fatimid Caliphate -
believed that only Mohammed’s descendants should be in positions of
power.
● 1055 - a group of Turkeman raiders converted to become Sunnis and took over
Abbasid Caliphate. Extended empire to take Iran, Iraq, Syria and Palestine
(included Jerusalem). Established garrison towns.
○ These were the Seljuk Turks.
○ First leader - Tughril Beg.
● Began to start small raids into the Byzantine empire, (Constantine IX was
Emperor but failed to respond adequately) pushing up into the border with Asia
Minor.
○ Constantine also allowed Italians to take back Southern Italy which further
weakened the Byzantine power base.
● 1056 - Michael VI Bringas - Emperor 1056-7. Started to criticise his generals
(Isaac Comnenus especially) which caused war between East and West armies.
Isaac became Emperor after winning Battle at Nicaea - 20/8/1057
● 1057 - Seljuks (Sunnis) took advantage of the Civil War between East and West
armies and increased raids until they took Melitene inside the Byzantine frontier.
● 1059 - New Emperor - Constantine X Ducas
● 1064 - Seljuks took Ani (influential Byzantine city).
● Michael Ducas was now Emperor, but too young and so his mother (Eudocia)
acted as Regent
○ She wanted to act against the Seljuks but family was too bound up with
internal dynastic rivalry.
, ○ Eudocia married Romanus Diogenes, who rebuilt army (consisting of 3
Tagmata) into a more professional force. Used more mercenaries-
difficulty when financial crisis came.
○ But Romanus was vv unpopular with the Ducas family- would cause
issues later.
The Battle of Manzikert
24th August, 1071
Background-
● Romanus needed a military victory to secure political power over the turbulent
Ducas family.
● A political/foreign policy victory would help secure power.
● Summer 1071- E and W tagmatas joined with mercenaries, Armenians, private
levees, siege engines.
● Around 40,000 men
● In Feb 1071, proposed renewal of the 1069 treaty between Constantinople and
Alp Arslan (now leader of Seljuks).
● This was a trick- Romanus aimed to convince Alp to abandon his siege of Aleppo
and retreat past the Euphrates. Would have given Romanus the tactical
advantage.
● BUT- Romanus’s intel was wrong. Alp Arslan had abandoned his siege but was
going to Armenia
● Seljuk army- lightly armoured, mounted. Used bows, daggers and single edged
swords. Typical battle strategy was to feign a retreat, then encircle the enemy
and use bows to finish them off.
● Romanus split the army- a bad idea but didn’t know he was wrong. WHO?
● Romanus’ second half of the army fled without telling him.
● Also put Andronicas Ducas in charge of the Reserve Forces. Sabotaged
baggage train and caused unrest.
, The Battle-
● The Seljuks were organised into a crescent formation about four kilometres away.
● Romanus ordered a slow advance
● Seljuk archers attacked the Byzantines as they drew closer
● the centre of their crescent continually moved backwards while the wings moved
to surround the Byzantine troops.
● The Byzantines held off the arrow attacks and captured Alp Arslan's camp by the
end of the afternoon.
● However, the right and left wings, where the arrows did most of their damage,
almost broke up
● The Seljuk cavalry kept disengaging when challenged, in the classic tactics of
steppe warriors.
● With the Seljuks avoiding battle, Romanos was forced to order a withdrawal by
the time night fell.
● However, the right wing misunderstood the order, and Doukas’ rear guard
deliberately ignored the emperor's order and marched back to the camp outside
Manzikert, rather than covering the emperor's retreat.
● With the Byzantines confused, the Seljuks seized the opportunity and attacked.
● The Byzantine right wing was almost immediately routed, thinking they were
betrayed either by the Armenians or the army's Turkish auxiliaries.
● The left wing under Bryennios held out a little longer but was also soon routed.
● The remnants of the Byzantine centre, including the Emperor and the Varangian
Guard, were encircled by the Seljuks.
● Romanos was injured and taken prisoner by the Seljuks.
Debate-
● Not the defeat historians/chroniclers say it was.
● 2nd half of army fled- left 20,000 surviving
● 500 Norman troops escaped
● ~1000 mercenaries defected
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