26 August 1071 has been recorded as one of the most decisive dates in medieval history, as on that day the Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan achieved a major victory against the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Manzikert. This defeat opened the way for Turkish penetration into Asia Minor and is considered a milestone in the decline of Byzantine power.
Every year, Ankara commemorates the event with ceremonies that go beyond historical memory, acquiring strong political and ideological significance. On Monday, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, surrounded by men dressed as Janissaries, spoke on the very field of Manzikert, presenting the battle as a symbol of national unity and of the ongoing struggle for Turkey’s strength.
He said that in Turkey’s history, when Turks, Kurds and Arabs had united and shown love for one another in the name of God, moving towards common goals, there had been many examples of success both at home and abroad.
Invoking the historic “common path” of Turks, Kurds and Arabs, Erdoğan connected the spirit of Alp Arslan with Saladin and Sultan Selim, as well as with later milestones of Turkish history: from the Fall of Constantinople to the Battle of the Dardanelles and the War of Independence. Through this rhetoric, he sought to present an unbroken historical continuity beginning in 1071 and leading to modern Turkey.
The symbolism of the speech was clear: Manzikert functioned as a founding myth, the “point zero” of Turkish presence in Asia Minor. The reference to the unity of different ethnic and religious groups aimed to foster internal cohesion at a time when Turkey faces political and social challenges.
He went on to say that, with the help of God and the Turkish people, the country would hand over to future generations a great and powerful Turkey. He stressed that the present century would be written into history as the century of Turkey.
The reference to a “powerful Turkey of the 21st century” translated into a political message of confidence and geopolitical assertion, addressed both domestically and internationally.
In this way, Erdoğan instrumentalises historical memory, linking a medieval military event with his contemporary political agenda. The Battle of Manzikert is not projected as a mere episode of the past, but as a symbol underpinning the narrative of a “Turkish century” and a national mission.
Symbolism in the Mosques
In Turkish political rhetoric (particularly under Erdoğan), the Battle of Manzikert (1071) is presented as the starting point of Turkish rule in Asia Minor. Monuments, minarets and even architectural interventions often acquire symbolic heights that refer to specific historical dates.
For example: in the Çamlıca Mosque (the Grand Çamlıca Mosque, 2019) on the Asian side of Istanbul, the six minarets are each 107.1 metres high, something that Turkish authorities have presented as a reference to the victory at Manzikert in 1071.
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