The Battle of Manzikert (1071) This is the first of a several part series which will be posted on the Aristotle's Knights Age of Kings Academy. This series will consist of information on important battle which occured during the AoK time period, as suggested by ES_Sandyman. Since the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines acted as a buffering zone for Europe from the raiding civilizations of the Middle East and Africa. For nearly a thousand years, the Byzantines continuously thwarted acts from the likes of the Persian and the Turks. However in 1071 the Byzantines suffered a shocking lose to the Seljuks, an aggressive, nomadic Turkish tribe. With roots in Iran, the Seljuk's had great Persian influences. They spoke Persian, were Muslim, valued may of the same cultural aspects of life the Persians did, including literature of the time. The Battle of Manzikert in 1071 signaled the beginning of the end for the last remnants of the Roman Empire. The Byzantines were walloped by the Seljuk's, who took Manzikert en route to conquering much of Asia Minor. Their victory opened the doors for the Seljuk's to steam rolled towards Constantinople, and conquer Damascus and Jerusalem by 1079. Not pleased the Holy Land was in the hands of Muslims, decided to try and take back the Holy Land, launching the First Crusade in 1095. The Seljuk dynasty remained intact until 1243, when they were defeated by the Mongols, and were later completely defeated by another Turkish tribe, the Ottomans in the 1400s.