The Seljuk Turks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               A Map of the Seljuk Empire in 1092. Note the battle of Manzikert in 1071. 

 

The Seljuk Empire was an Islamic empire that began in 1037 AD. The Seljuk Turks expanded quickly and had a series of wars with the Byzantine Empire. These battles are shown below. A particularly important battle was the Battle of Manzikert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a result of these battles, the Seljuk Turks had conquered much of the Byzantine Empire in the Middle East.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  The Byzantine Empire in 1025 AD.                                                                                   The Byzantine and Seljuk Empires in approximately 1092. 

 

This led to the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios, to ask the Western Christians for help. This help came in the form of the 1st Crusade and it was the Seljuk Turks that the 1st Crusade mainly fought. When the 1st Crusade came, it was the Seljuk Turks that the crusaders fought against.