Islam and Byzantium c.1071

Question 1

Which Seljuk leader made the conquest of Armenia a priority?

Answer 1

Arp-Aslan made the conquest of Armenia a priority to prevent an alliance between the Byzantine Empire and the Fatimids

Question 2

What was the main result of the battle of Manzikert?

Answer 2

The main result of the battle of Manzikert was that Byzantine territories were opened up to Turkish control. For example, Tutush captured Damascus and Jerusalem in 1079 from the Fatimids

Question 3

Who was Malik-Shah?

Answer 3

Malik-Shah was son of Arp-Aslan.

Question 4

In what year did Malik-Shah succeed Arp-Aslan as Great Seljuk Sultan.

Answer 4

Malik-Shah succeeded Arp-Aslan as Great Seljuk Sultan in 1072.

Question 5

Who was Tutush?

Answer 5

Tutush was Arp-Aslan’s son, Malik-Shah’s brother.

Question 6

Where was the Sultanate of Rum established and by whom?

Answer 6

The Sultanate of Rum was established in Anatolia by Sulaiman.

Question 7

When and why was Sulaiman defeated and killed by Tutush?

Answer 7

Sulaiman was killed by Tutush in 1086 when he tried to expand the Sultanate of Rum southwards.

Question 8

When did Malik-Shah die on what did his death cause?

Answer 8

Malik Shah died in 1092 and his death saw the disintegration of Seljuk unity.

Question 9

When and why was Tutush killed by his nephew?

Answer 9

Tutush was killed by his nephew Berkyaruk in 1095 for trying to seize the throne of the Great Seljuk Sultanate

Question 10

What did Berkyaruk do with Tutush’s possessions?

Answer 10

Berkyaruk split Tutush’s possessions between his sons Duqaq of Damascus and Ridwan of Aleppo.

Question 11

Who re-established the Sultanate of Rum after Malik-Shah’s death?

Answer 11

Kilij Arslan was allowed to re-establish the sultanate of Rum after Malik-Shah’s death in 1092.

Question 12

When did Romanus Diogenes become emperor?

Answer 12

Romanus Diogenes became emperor in 1068.

Question 13

How was Romanus defeated at Manzikert in 1071?

Answer 13

At Manzikert (1071), Romanus Diogenes marched to intercept Alp-Arslan with a reduced army which included mercenaries from the Roman Turks and Normandy. These contingents betrayed him at the battle of Manzikert allowing the Byzantine army to be destroyed

Question 14

What happened after the battle of Manzikert (1071)?

Answer 14

At Manzikert, Romanus was captured and forced to give homage to Alp Arslan. It was agreed that Romanus would pay a ransom and hand over the cities of Manzikert, Antioch and Edessa

Question 15

Who was able to depose Romanus after Manzikert?

Answer 15

The Ducas clan were able to depose Romanus and managed to get Emperor Michael VII crowned emperor.

Question 16

What is an example of individual commanders capturing land in the Byzantine empire?

Answer 16

Mercenary units under their autonomous commanders seized on the confusion to carve out realms of their own from the defenceless Byzantine heartland, such a Roussel de Balliol with only 500 knights

Question 17

Who succeeded Michael VII as emperor?

Answer 17

During the civil war of 1078, Nicephorus Botaneiates marched against Emperor Michael VII to seize the throne. Nicephorus used Turkish mercenaries to help depose Michael VII.

Question 18

When did Alexius Comnenus become Emperor?

Answer 18

Alexius Comnenus became Emperor in 1081.

Question 19

Who did Alexius betroth his eldest daughter, Alice, to?

Answer 19

Alexius betrothed his eldest daughter Anna to the son of Empress Maria Ducas, wife of the previous three emperors.

Question 20

When did Robert Guiscard capture Bari (the last Byzantine stronghold in Italy)?

Answer 20

In 1071 Robert Guiscard had captured the last Byzantine stronghold in Italy, Bari.

Question 21

Where did Robert Guiscard defeat Alexius in 1081?

Answer 21

In 1081 Robert and his son Bohemond attacked Dyrrhacium defeating the imperial forces led by Alexius.

Question 22

Where did Alexius defeat the Pechenegs?

Answer 22

At the battle of Levounion in May 1091, Alexius defeated the Pechnegs.

Question 23

How many Byzantines and Pechenegs were present at the battle of Levounion?

Answer 23

At the battle of Levounion, there were 20,000 Byzantines and 80,000 Pechenegs.

Question 24

What prompted Alexius to request military support from the West?

Answer 24

By 1095 Alexius was ready to be more aggressive against the Turks; having dealt with the threat from the Normans and the Pechenegs. He sent messages to the West in the hope of recruiting mercenaries and his envoys arrived at the Council of Piacenza (March 1095) to ask for Urban’s support for the recruitment of mercenaries.