Today in history, the Battle of Manzikert opens the way for the Islamic conquest of Christian Asia Minor—setting the stage for the Turkic invasion of Europe centuries later.
 On August 26, 1071, one of the most decisive battles in all world history took place—that of Manzikert. It paved the way for the First Crusade, the subsequent Ottoman invasions of Europe, and creation of the modern state of Turkey atop formerly Christian Asia Minor. It all began half a century earlier, in 1019, when “the first appearance of the bloodthirsty beasts … the savage nation of infidels called Turks entered Armenia … and mercilessly slaughtered the Christian faithful with the sword,” writes the chronicler, Mathew of Edessa. In the ensuing years and decades, virtually the whole of Armenia was decimated: hundreds of thousands were slaughtered or enslaved, and thousands of churches torched or desecrated, including by being turned into mosques:
Nor was there much doubt concerning what fueled the Turks’ animus: “This nation of infidels,” a military leader explained, “comes against us because of our Christian faith and they are intent on destroying the ordinances of the worshippers of the cross and on exterminating the Christian faithful.” Therefore, “it is fitting and right for all the faithful to go forth with their swords and to die for the Christian faith.” Many were of the same mind; records tell of monks and priests, fathers, wives, and children, all shabbily armed but zealous to protect their way of life, coming out to face the invaders—only to be butchered or enslaved. |
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