Battle of Caesarea

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Battle of Caesarea
Part of the Byzantine-Seljuk wars
Date 1064 Location Armenia, Syria and Anatolia in Asia minor Result Caesarea lost, then recaptured by Byzantines
Combatants
Byzantine Empire	Seljuk Turks
Commanders
Byzantine emperor	Leader of the Seljuk Turks & Sultanate of Rum
Strength
Capable of raising 100,000 troops with theme system	30,000-40,000 of horsemen
Casualties
Unknown	Unknown

The Battle of Caesarea occurred in 1064 when the Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan attacked Caesarea as part of the wave conquests implemented by him to expand west of Central Asia.

[edit] Seljuk advance

Main article in Seljuk dynasty

Ever since the mid 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had from their lands in central asia (the exact where abouts is still debated) advanced into the Middle East, where they met limited opposition, due to the continuing decline of the unity of the Arab factions in the region, and the declining power of the Abbasid caliphate. By the mid 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had deposed the current Abbasid caliphate, with the leader of the Seljuk Turks taking the title for himself. Their expansion into the middle east brought them to the borders of Antioch and Armenia which were under the control of the Byzantine empire.

[edit] Battle

The Byzantine empire had steadily increased in power, with a large army capable of being assembled from their successful theme system. Despite this, the Byzantine empire seemed not to have prepared for this danger, since Seljuk raids had been occurring across Armenia and Caesarea was stormed by the Seljuks in 1064. A Byzantine counter-attack was launched from Antioch. The Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV in 1071 had sent army to Manzikert near Armenia to recapture Manzikert after it had fallen to Alp Arslan. Since the Seljuk Turks had abandoned Manzikert prior to the Battle of Manzikert, it is likely that Caesarea was abandoned too, else the Seljuk would have found themselves out-flankled, something that a steppe peoples such as the Seljuk Turks are known to skillfully avoid.

[edit] Legacy

The battle woke the Byzantine empire to the threat of the Seljuk Turks. Though Caesarea was most likely re-captured, no doubt the Seljuk Turks had developed a taste for the lands of the Byzantine empire.

Following Caesarea, the Seljuk Turks made another attempt invading Anatolia, with an assault on Iconium in 1069. The Byzantines laucnhed another counter-attack and the city was not taken by the Seljuks until after the Battle of Manzikert.