Battle of Caesarea

Battle of Caesarea

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Caesarea


caption=
partof=the Byzantine-Seljuk wars|date=1067
place=Armenia, Syria and Anatolia in Asia minor
result=Caesarea lost, then recaptured by Byzantines
combatant1=
combatant2= Great Seljuk Sultanate
commander1=Constantine X
commander2=Alp Arslan
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=Unknown

The Battle of Caesarea occurred in 1067 when the Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan attacked Caesarea as part of the wave conquests implemented by him to expand west of Central Asia.

eljuk advance

"Main article in Seljuk dynasty"

Ever since the mid 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had from their lands in Central Asia (the exact whereabouts is still debated) advanced into the Middle East, where they met limited opposition, due to the continuing decline of the unity of the Arab factions in the region, and the declining power of the Abbasid caliphate. By the mid 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had deposed the current Abbasid caliphate, with the leader of the Seljuk Turks taking the title for himself. Their expansion into the Middle East brought them to the borders of Antioch and Armenia which were under the control of the Byzantine Empire.

Battle

The Byzantine Empire had steadily increased in power, with a large force capable of being assembled from their successful tagmata army. Despite this, the Byzantine empire seemed not to have been prepared for this danger, since Seljuk raids had been occurring across Armenia and Caesarea was stormed by the Seljuks in 1067. A Byzantine counter-attack was launched from Antioch. The Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV in 1071 had sent an army to Manzikert near Armenia to recapture it after it had fallen to Alp Arslan. Since the Seljuk Turks had abandoned Manzikert prior to the Battle of Manzikert and had even been driven into Mesopotamia, it is likely that Caesarea was abandoned too, else the Seljuk would have found themselves out-flankled, something that a steppe peoples such as the Seljuk Turks are known to skillfully avoid.

Legacy

The battle woke the Byzantine empire to the threat of the Seljuk Turks. Though Caesarea was most likely re-captured, no doubt the Seljuk Turks had developed a taste for the lands of the Byzantine Empire. Following Caesarea, the Seljuk Turks made another attempt invading Anatolia, with an assault on Iconium in 1069. The Byzantines launched another counter-attack and the city was not taken by the Seljuks until after the Battle of Manzikert.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Battle of Manzikert — Part of the Byzantine Seljuk wars In this 15th century French miniature depicting the Battle of Manzikert, the combatants are cla …   Wikipedia

  • Caesarea Philippi — Not be confused with Caesarea Maritima, on the Mediterranean, or the town Caesarea in Israel, or with Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia. Caesarea Philippi The ruins of Caesarea Philippi …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Yarmouk — Infobox Military Conflict caption=Across the ravines lies battlefield of Yarmouk, a picture taken 8 miles from battlefield, from Jordan. conflict=Battle of Yarmouk partof=the Muslim conquest of Syria and Byzantine Arab Wars date=15th 20th August …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Agridi — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Agridi partof=the War of the Lombards caption= date=15 June 1232 place=Agridi, Cyprus casus=Appointment of five bailiffs in Cyprus by Frederick II territory= result=Cypriot victory combatant1=… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Arsuf — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Arsuf caption= partof=the Third Crusade date=September 7, 1191 place=Arsuf result=Crusader victory combatant1= combatant2= commander1=Richard I of EnglandRobert de Sable commander2=Saladin strength1=20 …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of the Milvian Bridge — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Milvian Bridge partof=the Wars of Constantine I caption= Dream of Constantine I and battle of the Milvian Bridge date=October 28, 312 place=Ponte Milvio, Rome result=Defeat of Maxentius… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Hazir — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Hazir. partof=Muslim conquest of SyriaByzantine Arab Wars caption= date=June 637 AD place=Syria result=Decisive Rashidun Caliphate victory combatant1=Rashidun Caliphate (Mobile guard)… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Levounion — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Levounion partof=the Komnenian restoration and Byzantine Seljuk Wars caption=Painting of Alexios I, from a Greek manuscript in the Vatican library. date=April 29 1091 place=Levounion (near Enos, modern …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Iconium — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Myriokephalon caption= partof=the Byzantine Seljuk wars date=1069 place=Near Iconium, in modern day Konya, Turkey result=Byzantine victory combatant1= combatant2= Seljuk Turks commander1=Unknown… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Pankalia — The Battle of Pankalia (Pancalia) was fought between the army loyal to the Byzantine emperor Basil II and the forces of the rebel general Bardas Skleros. It took place to the west of Caesarea, in the thema of Charsianon on March 24, 979. In a… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”