Why was the Byzantine Empire weak 1071-95? Flashcards
what are 3 main theories for why the Byzantine Empire was weak 1071-95?
- Threats from the Seljuk Turks
- Internal Developments
- Threats from Europe
what was the impact of Manzikert on the strength of the Byzantine Empire?
- large Turkish warbands now had access to Anatolia.
- Byzantium was cut off from sources of Armenian manpower for armies.
what areas did Turks, outside the authority of the Seljuk Sultan, take over in 1078-90?
Areas in Antolia
what did bands of Turks outside authority of Seljuk Sultan do 1078-90?
take over areas in Anatolia
what threats did Seljuk Turks pose to the Byzantine Empire 1078-90?
- Areas in Anatolia taken over by bands of Turks outside authority of Seljuk Sultan
- Area around Sebasteia fell to Danishmends and another group pushed westwards under Suleiman ibn Qutulmish
- Suleiman ibn Qutulmish came into possession of Nicaea, 1084 came into possession of Antioch
- mercenary Turkish forces had a destabilising effect
- Smyrna captured by semi-indepedent emir Caka
- by 1090 virtually the whole of Anatolia was in the hands of Turkish or Armenian warlords - Byzantines controlled only area around Chalcedon and Trebizond
who did the area around Sebasteia fall to in 1078-90?
the Danishmends
which group pushed westwards in 1078-90?
a group under Suleiman ibn Qutulmish
who was Suleiman ibn Qutulmish?
a cousin of Alp Arslan
how did Suleiman ibn Qutulmish come into possession of Nicaea and Antioch?
by lending his assistance in the civil wars of the 1070s
when did Suleiman ibn Qutulmish come into possession of Nicaea?
1078
when did Suleiman ibn Qutulmish come into possession of Antioch?
1084
what was the impact of mercenary Turkish forces in Byzantium?
they had a destabilising effect
who captured Smyrna 1078-90?
Caka
who was Caka?
semi-independent emir - captured Smyrna
by 1090, who dominated almost all of Anatolia?
by 1090 virtually the whole of Anatolia was in the hands of Turkish or Armenian warlords
by 1090, what areas of Anatolia were still controlled by the Byzantines?
only the area around Chalcedon and Trebizond
what threats did the Seljuk Turks pose to Byzantium 1090-95?
- Abu’l-Kasim prepared to attack Nicomedia
- Nicomedia was lost
- Danishmends launched attacks from eastern Anatolia into Cappadocia
- Caka built a fleet to raid Byzantine islands in Aegean
who was Abu’l-Kasim?
Turkish ruler of Nicaea
why did Abu’l-Kasim prepare to attack Nicomedia?
due to Imperial preoccupation with Pecheneg threat
why was Nicomedia lost in 1091?
due to Diversion of some Flemish knights to deal with Pechenegs
where did the Danishmends launch attacks from and to, 1090-95?
from eastern Anatolia into Cappadocia
which towns did the Danishmends target 1090-95?
major towns like Sebasteia and Kaisereia
how did Caka threaten the Byzantine Empire 1090-95?
he built a fleet to raid Byzantine islands in Aegean and disrupted shipments from towns and islands to Constantinople
why did Caka pose a threat to Constantinople 1090-95?
attempts to defeat Caka using the Byzantine fleet failed