Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
 Hints
1- Watch at high resolution
(Theater Mode)
2- pause to read text panels
3- download pdf of maps
Armenian Background,
pt 2: Early Turkish Raids
AD 1048-1070
 Fall of Armenia 6: Early Seljuq Raids
Ku
m a 1048-1060
Ala
nia Terek

Ter
ek

i
Georgia
ng ur Iron Gate
I
Sinope Bagrat IV
{1027-1072}
Rioni Kutatisi Derbent

H 69
as -1
4- {1057-1059} Isaac Komnenos (uncle of

{8
Al
a Tiflis
ti zani
ur a

hi 07
K
the future emperor Alexios) rebels against e

m 5
2- {1048/09/10} Battle of Kapetron: eGr

id }
Michael VI {1056-1057}, and marches with H ab

s
decisive victory of the Turks under Ibrahim
much of the eastern Byzantine army to irr
t
Yinal (brother of Tughril Beg) over a x e
Byzantine
overthrow Michael in a civil war. This leaves Trebizond
combined Byzantine and Georgian army. Kura
y
K a
the east weakly defended, allowing the Turks {1053}
This victory opened the way for over a
Ha
s
Empire
ly to begin raids into central Anatolia (Melitene
Iris decade of Seljuq and Turkmensiraids
s in Kars
Lori
Lori-Tashir Ganja Sharwan ShahsBaku
and Sebastia). p
Armenia and eastern Anatolia.
ca
m Ani
Constantine IX Ye s
ilirm
A {799-1382}
ak
4 {1042-1055} Coruh 2 Yerevan Kura

Theodosopolis Aras
Ankyra Teleboas
Sebastia
)
Dvin Siwnik
ara Su
(K )
ak {1049} t Su
m
lir ur
a 1
Ha
K izi {1059} &
Arcrunid
lys (M
Manzikert
Bagratid Vassals 1
Aras
ias {1055}
Caesarea {1021-1071} Arsan
Mush Akhlat
Melitene
Van
Ti
Ardabil
g ris
an

{1057}
Sallarids
yh

Coxon
Se

Tabriz
Heraclea
Cilician Gates
Ce
y h an 1- Earliest Turkish raids are in (Musafirids)
M
Diyarbakir
arw Armenia and eastern Anatolia; they
di {916-1090} Gh
us

Marash {99 anid are the regions closest to their a

Sar

u p hr
ates
0 smilitary base at Tabriz. ww 071} ez
Ti
Adana s
a el
mu E
108
g
a R -1
ris
Pyr Maragha O
5} Hadhabani 5 za
{95
n
Calycadnus 3- {1055/12} Tughril
Tarsis
Edessa {943-1080?} Beg enters Baghdad in
es

Uqaylids Alamut
ant

triumph as the new

Antioch
Or

Belen Pass
{990-1096} Mosul Annazids
protector and Sultan of
Seleucia Aleppo 3 the Abbasid caliphate. Qazvin
Qirwash {1001-1050} {991-1107}
St Simeon Raqqa Rayy
 Notes on Turkish Raids
1- Some raids were undertaken by independent Turkmen tribes, not
necessarily on orders from the Sultans

2- Other raids were led by Sultans, such Tughril Beg in 1054 and Alp
Arslan in 1064.

3- Local Christian lords sometimes allied with Turks to:

a- help destroy their rivals, b- to prevent Turks from plundering their

own lands, and c- for a share of the plunder.
 Turkish Raiding Strategies

1- Annual raids: predatory state

= must obtain regular plunder to maintain the army.

2- each year raid a different province

3- No attempt at permanent migration or conquest

4- raid quickly and withdraw with booty before the main Byzantine
army can mobilize
 Turkish Raiding Strategies

5- avoid battle with the main Byzantine army if possible.

6- in countryside Turks plunder livestock and slaves

7- At cities Turks try to extort tribute from the city

8- If the city refuses to pay tribute, Turks try to capture it quickly

9- if the Turks sack the city, they plunder slaves, luxury items and
money.
 Turkish Raiding Strategies

10- After a raid the Turks attempt to withdraw back into northwest
Iran as quickly as possible with their booty

11- If they are cornered, the Turks abandon their plunder in order to
allow the army to escape.

12- Preserving the ordu (Turkish horde = camp, tribe) is more

important than capturing wealth, herds, land or cities.
 Crusading Warfare

https://www.crusadingwarfare.net/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/459168451092888/
YouTube channel = Crusading Warfare