Certainty: 2 Bagrat IV corrresponded with Alp Arslan over poll-tax (jizya) Certainty: 2
1064
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan attacked towns in Georgia & Shakki (?)
When the Seljuq sultan Alp Arslan carried out a jihad by making a raid against the Byzantines. When he stopped in Marand, he enlisted the help of Tughtigin, a Turcoman emir, as his guide to the country. After he reached Nakhshevan, he gave orders to build boats to cross the river Araxes. He then conquered towns and fortresses in Georgia, destroying churches and building mosques in their stead. After Georgia and Abchasia, he entered and seized the territory of Shakki, whose king converted to Islam and received back from him the government over the country as a sign of generosity
Certainty: 2 Despite poor defences at Ani, attempt was made to sieze booty from Alp Arslan as he passed Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Responding to pointless provocation, Alp Arslan besieged & sacked Ani despite its natural strength Certainty: 2
1067
Certainty: 3 Alp Arslan advanced against the empire Certainty: 3
1068
Certainty: 2 Strategy of Alp Arslan before first campaign of Romanos IV Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Psellos wrote to Eustratios Choirosphaktes, with congratulations on Romanos IV's victory Certainty: 3
1069
Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote Oratio Panegyrica 20 & 21 for Romanos IV, as he left Constantinople on campaign
These speeches are too general to be easily dated, though perhaps the 1069 campaign is the most likely. In one, he received an address from Psellos at a banquet on behalf of the people of the capital, picturing him as a warrior (probably over the campaign of 1068), thanking him for his efforts and wishing him success in the battles of the coming year. In the other, he received an oration from Psellos as he was leaving the city on an eastern campaign: he was wished success in biblical terms, that he would defeat the new Amalek or Pharaoh - implying a that the sultan was understood to be leading the Turkish raids
1070
Certainty: 2 Mantzikert captured & garrisoned by Alp Arslan Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Struggle among Turks between Alp Arslan & Erisgen; latter defected to Byzantines Certainty: 2
1071
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan began his campaign against Byzantium
Alp Arslan, the Seljuk Sultan, set off from Persia against the Romans, to conduct a well-planned campaign. Some of Romanos IV's generals suggested that he should be attacked at Batana in Media, while others preferred waiting for him in central Anatolia. At least one later Islamic source describes a battle at Chliat before Mantzikert, in which Alp Arslan defeated a Byzantine force. The battle was said to be fought under a huge cross, which the sultan captured and carried off. [William of Tyre, using the compound personality "Belfeth", makes Alp Arslan conquer most of Anatolia in this one campaign]
Certainty: 2 At Theodosioupolis Romanos took two months of provisions, because country ahead was destroyed Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Information reached Romanos IV at Mantzikert that Alp Arslan had fled to Baghdad Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Turkish forces reported nearby: Nikephoros Bryennios, sent against them, later demanded reinforcements Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Psellos implies that though Romanos knew nothing of sultan's presence, he (Psellos) did know Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios & Basilakes continued the fight, the latter taking the lead & being captured Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The Roman camp was surrounded, & no word came from Chliat Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Turks requested peace from Romanos IV as he drew up his army, but he decided to attack Certainty: 3
Battle of Mantzikert (general factoids)Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Turkish tactics & intervention of Andronikos Doukas led to defeat & capture of emperor Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan reassured Romanos he would be treated honourably, kept him for 8 days & set him free Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Romanos hurried westwards via Koloneia: at Melissopetri he learned that his wife had deposed him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Romanos & Khacatur wintered in Cilicia, missing (Attaleiates says) a good chance to advance Certainty: 2
1072
Certainty: 2 Turks invaded & pillaged after removal of Romanos IV Certainty: 2