Certainty: 2 Bagrat IV corrresponded with Alp Arslan over poll-tax (jizya)
Bagrat IV, king of Georgia, sent letters to the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan on the subject of poll tax (jizya). Alp Arslan responded favorably to them
1064
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan attacked towns in Georgia & Shakki (?) Certainty: 2
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 Certainty: 1
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 Certainty: 2
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
The whereabouts of the sultan were unknown. The presence of his peace envoys must have raised suspicions, but Romanos IV also had credible information in a letter from Leon Diabatenos that Alp Arslan had learnt about his campaign and, fearing his force, had left Persia and retreated to Babylon. His arrival at Mantzikert was an unpleasant surprise
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
When the exhausted Romans were asked to retreat to their camp, many of Romanos' more distant men feared that this meant defeat. This impression was strengthened by Andronikos, son of the kaisar Ioannes, who led the rearguard. Andronikos withdrew at this point, supporting the pessimistic view. When the sultan was informed by his soldiers of the confusion among the Romans, he attacked the emperor, who was trying in vain to prevent his own troops from fleeing. The sultan also gave considerable tactical control to his general Taranges, who set ambushes and tried to encircle the emperor. Attaleiates tried in vain to stem the flight. The Roman camp was plundered, including the imperial tent: a beautiful table and rich cross from this booty would reappear much later at Shayzar, used as a bribe to save the city from Ioannes II
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