The Battle of Manzicert in 1071

Seljuk influence over Armenia and Georgia would bring the Seljukhs too close to Byzantine interests. Al-Aqasaland decided that he needed to act militarily against the Byzantines in 1071. The victory of the Seljuks at Manzicert marked the beginning of Turkic expansion into Anatolia. It also exposed the threat to European culture enough for a rallying cry to be heard throughout Europe to reclaim Middle Eastern lands. These campaigns have come down to us as the Crusades.