Papers by Antonios vratimos
Eklektik, 2024
The outcome of the battle of Mantzikert that was fought between the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan and ... more The outcome of the battle of Mantzikert that was fought between the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan and the Byzantine emperor Romanos Diogenes paved the way for the expansion of the Turks into Asia Minor that resulted in the establishment of the sultanate of Rum. It is believed that this defeat was the sequel to the internal machinations of the Doukai against their political enemy Diogenes, since he was proclaimed emperor. In reality, the outcome was decided even before the imperial troops proceeded to battle. The paper discusses the war preparations in the two camps as described in Muslim and Christian historical sources. Alp Arslan's prudent acts gave his warriors the confidence and determination to fight bravely for their religion and their leader. Diogenes' haughtiness and severity in manner had very negative effects on his already dispirited soldiers who lost not only their fighting spirit, but also the trust in their commander. For this reason, the rumours of the Byzantine defeat were the perfect excuse they were looking for to avoid battle and retreat, ignoring Diogenes' order to return to their lines.
Universal Journal of History and Culture, 2023
Due to the Brexit agreement, the former French President Charles de Gaulle comes to the fore agai... more Due to the Brexit agreement, the former French President Charles de Gaulle comes to the fore again. His veto of Britain's application to join the EEC (in 1963 and 1967) becomes timely today. In the past, he was treated as an obstacle to the European unification process, but today he is seen as an insightful politician with intuitive thinking. On this basis, an overall re-evaluation of his political trajectory may be necessary. This article focuses upon the speeches de Gaulle gave in the Second World War and proceeds to some remarks on how he truly envisaged an integrated Europe during that period of time.
BYZANTION NEA HELLÁS , 2022
The battle at the river of Sangarios, near the bridge of Zompe, is generally treated in the frame... more The battle at the river of Sangarios, near the bridge of Zompe, is generally treated in the framework of the internal uprisings and rebellions that marred the empire in the eleventh century. However, it was more decisive than that of Mantzikert (1071) in the sense that the victory of the Frankish chieftain Roussel drastically diminished the numbers of the imperial armies, leaving the easternmost provinces open to constant raiding and unrestrained plundering by the Seljuk Turks. In this paper, I reconstruct the deadly battle through the texts of the Greek historians Attaleiates and Bryennios and try to throw light on the reason for this defeat. There are data to suggest the possibility that Nikephoros Botaneiates – the future emperor – betrayed his fellow commander, the caesar John Doukas.
Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 2022
This paper deals with the Saljūqnāma of the Ottoman scholar Ahmed ibn Mahmud. It focuses on the t... more This paper deals with the Saljūqnāma of the Ottoman scholar Ahmed ibn Mahmud. It focuses on the two unexploited poems inserted into his Mantzikert account, and juxtaposes them with the world chronicles in verse that have been written by Constantine Manasses and Ehpraim of Ainos. The three writers recount the same event from different viewpoints. Ephraim absolves Diogenes from any responsibility, while Manasses seeks the reasons for the defeat in battle in his severe attitude. For Ahmed, the Seljuk victory came exclusively from God’s hands which were long enough to reach and protect the pious sultan with his warriors.
Adalya, 2021
The Byzantine writer Michael Attaleiates was born in Attaleia (Antalya), and, at a young age, lef... more The Byzantine writer Michael Attaleiates was born in Attaleia (Antalya), and, at a young age, left home to pursue his education in Constantinople where he stayed and made a career in the law. He is mostly known for his historical work that thoroughly describes the empire’s military operations in Anatolia. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the reasons behind the notable antithesis in the way the Saldjūḳs in general and the sulṭans Ṭoghril Beg and Alp Arslan in particular are depicted in the Historia. Undoubtedly, a point of comparison is discerned between the two sulṭans and the emperors who came in direct or indirect contact with them. On these grounds, Attaleiates appears to juxtapose Ṭoghril Beg’s high respect for bold military men with Constantine IX Monomachos’ striking indifference to the army, and Romanos IV Diogenes’ conceit with Alp Arslan’s modesty. All this serves to demonstrate the quality of imperial virtues inculcated in Botaneiates, the model of governance in Attaleiates’ view.
Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Sep 20, 2021
This study analyses the battle of Manzikert, which marked the beginning of a new period, through ... more This study analyses the battle of Manzikert, which marked the beginning of a new period, through the-as-yet unpublished manuscript of the sixteenth-century Ottoman historian, Ahmed ibn Mahmud. Since it has little fresh to add to what we know from earlier texts, its value lies in the handling of his material. Though it is modelled on the account of the Arab writer Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, there are numerous rearrangements and deliberate omissions. All these elements serve to meet Ahmed’s compositional goal which should be seen through the prism of Alp Arslan’s devoted faith to God that decided his victory at Manzikert.
Reti Medievali Rivista, 21/1, 2020
It is well known that after Romanos Diogenes’ sound defeat at Mantzikert in 1071 A.D., the Armeni... more It is well known that after Romanos Diogenes’ sound defeat at Mantzikert in 1071 A.D., the Armenians founded their own principalities in Byzantine territory. Yet, their role in the battle has not been examined systematically until now. According to Michael the Great, the patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Armenians were the first to desert from the army. Whereas this was accepted as truth in the past, more recently historians have questioned the historicity of his statement. This study proposes to solve the problem, and concludes that the Historia of
Attaleiates contains evidence that corroborates the desertion of the Armenian soldiers.
Mediterranean Journal of Humanities (2146-4812), 2019
Romanos IV Diogenes is well known for the battle of Mantzikert (August 1071 A.D.), the stronghold... more Romanos IV Diogenes is well known for the battle of Mantzikert (August 1071 A.D.), the stronghold lying to the north of Lake Van on the Armenian plateau, given that this was the first time in Byzantine history an emperor was captured alive by the Seljuks. His responsibility for his army’s crushing defeat has not received the attention that it deserves in modern scholarship. This article examines his attitude to his soldiers and officers; and further discusses whether it was in line with the prescriptions found in Byzantine military manuals. The Historia of Michael Attaleiates, a direct participant in all three of Diogenes’ military campaigns in Asia Minor against the Turks, constitutes the main source for this research. Important information is also found in later chronicles that were written by Theodoros Skoutariotes, Constantine Manasses, George – the Monk – Hamartolos, and Zonaras. These chronicles remain little studied and some of them are still untranslated into modern languages. The article concludes that the emperor’s own attitude had a quite negative impact on the morale of his soldiers, and caused the battle to be lost for the Byzantines before it was even fought.
AL-MASĀQ, 2019
The absence of the magister Joseph Tarchaneiotes – one of the key
persons involved in the events ... more The absence of the magister Joseph Tarchaneiotes – one of the key
persons involved in the events that led to the fateful battle of
Mantzikert in 1071 – affected its outcome to a significant extent.
This article elucidates his role in Romanos IV Diogenes’s last
campaign in Asia Minor. As I demonstrate, the magister
intentionally fled from the scene. Yet, his action seems to have
been entirely irrelevant to the internal machinations of the
Doukai. Two more issues will also be considered and precede the
matter of Tarchaneiotes’s withdrawal: a) the time he was
despatched to Chliat; and b) the ethnic composition of the troops
under his command. Close inspection shows that his despatch
from the bulk of the army took place earlier than was previously
considered possible; and that his troops consisted of Armenians.
In essence, our knowledge of Tarchaneiotes in medieval literature
is restricted to those three issues.
Symbolae Osloenses, 2017
The ability to extract fully the contextualized interpretations of Michael Attaleiates’ Historia ... more The ability to extract fully the contextualized interpretations of Michael Attaleiates’ Historia is a rather difficult task without the parallel study of sources chronicling the same period. This article reconsiders Attaleiates’ justification for the division of the army by Diogenes before the battle of Mantzikert in 1071, and argues that the author is as critical of this emperor’s strategy as his close contemporary, Psellos, though his criticism is more subtly formulated. Another section discusses a gap in the narrative structure of the Historia and goes on to fill it with information derived from the Hyle Historias of Bryennios and from the chronicles of al-Bundari and Ibn al-‘Adim.
The purpose of this article is twofold: A) to re-examine the role and functions of Attaleiates as... more The purpose of this article is twofold: A) to re-examine the role and functions of Attaleiates as "krites tou stratopedou" on the military campaigns of Romanos Diogenes; and B) to re-evaluate Attaleiates’ account of the battle of Mantzikert. A detailed analysis shows that there is another angle through which the relative passage can be read. Though there is no concrete evidence to disprove his claim that he was present at the battle itself, there are indications, nonetheless, that he might have stayed in the camp. From this point of view, we may infer that his information about the events of concern to us here is based on reports of certain people who did witness the development of the battle.
The present article analyzes Psellos’ commentary on the disarray of the Byzantine army in the Chr... more The present article analyzes Psellos’ commentary on the disarray of the Byzantine army in the Chronographia. The topic is examined in relation to the political circumstances of the time, and the author’s own particular situation. It is possible to conclude that much of his commentary on the military in the Chronographia is disingenuous and is influenced by his own position and interests.
Michael Attaleiates implicated Eudokia Makrembolitissa in a plot to remove her husband, Romanos I... more Michael Attaleiates implicated Eudokia Makrembolitissa in a plot to remove her husband, Romanos IV Diogenes, from power long before the Mantzikert campaign (1071 A.D.). The present article investigates her possible motives through a detailed analysis of the sources. It concludes that Attaleiates’ testimony cannot be reliable, and is probably based on a false assumption or on some inaccurate hearsay evidence.
The books five and seven of the Chronographia contain some striking parallels between the two dep... more The books five and seven of the Chronographia contain some striking parallels between the two deposed and blinded emperors of the eleventh century,Kalaphates and Diogenes. The aim of this article is to consider whether these parallels are real historical facts or products of fabrication. Then, it will move on toexamine how the two emperors are treated by Psellos within a context that takes intoaccount the aspects of his political thought.
Byzantinoslavica, Jan 1, 2009
The present article reviews a passage from the Historia of Attaleiates concerning the armies whic... more The present article reviews a passage from the Historia of Attaleiates concerning the armies which the emperor Romanos IV Diogenes assembled before his first campaign against the Seljuks (1068). It discusses the author’s accuracy in the use of the names of Scyths, but also extends the analysis to how other ethnic minorities are addressed in the Historia.
Conference Presentations by Antonios vratimos
Geçmişten Günümüze Sakarya, Tarih / Kültür / Toplum, Uluslararası Sakarya Sempozyumu 23-25 Kasım 2017, International Symposium on Sakarya, “From Past to Present”, 2018
The Byzantine Empire, as a result of the unfortunate defeat at Mantzikert, greatly declined into ... more The Byzantine Empire, as a result of the unfortunate defeat at Mantzikert, greatly declined into a state of internal and external crisis. The army proved unable to drive off the Turks in the Balkans and Asia Minor, while the deposition of Romanos IV paved the way for a series of civil wars that ripped the Empire apart for the next decade. The continual incursions into imperial territory were not the main consideration of the emperors whose priority had become to eliminate the claimants to power. Such is the case of the Latin Roussel de Bailleul who, in 1074, rose in rebellion against Michael IV with 400 Franks. His advance against Constantinople alarmed the emperor, who sent against the rebel a force under the command of John Doukas, the kaisar, and the future emperor, Nikephoros Botaneiates. The two armies met each other at the river of Sangarios by the bridge of Zompe where the imperial forces suffered a humiliating defeat. John Doukas was captured, while Botaneiates escaped with his men. The event in question is described in some detail by the Greek historians, Attaleiates and Bryennios. Their accounts, however, do not coincide with one another, leaving questions unanswered about the development and the phases of the battle. Focusing upon Botaneiates, this study will try to throw light on his role in the defeat of the imperial army. From the available textual evidence, we may argue that Botaneiates’ return from the battlefield may be construed as a deliberate act of betrayal.
Byzantine-Slavic Readings II, Nish, Serbia, 2019
Usually modern scholarship examines the reign of the emperor Diogenes (1068-1071) on the basis of... more Usually modern scholarship examines the reign of the emperor Diogenes (1068-1071) on the basis of the accounts of Attaleiates and his close contemporary Psellos. The two historians are supplemented by the works of Skylitzes Continuatus, Bryennios and Zonaras. Later sources are omitted or mentioned in brief. The present article focuses on the works of Constantine Manasses and the continuator (or continuators) of George Hamartolos, the Monk. Although they are posterior to the eleventh-century events, they contain details found nowhere else. In particular, it aims to shed more light on two issues: a) Diogenes’ unsuccessful plot to topple the imperial government; and b) his treacherous betrayal by members of his retinue before the final encounter at Mantzikert.
3rd International History Symposium: "Looking Down At Izmir from Kadifekale in the 700th Anniversary of its Conquest by Aydinids: Past and Future of Izmir", April 5-7, 2018, 2019
The historical case of the Turkish emir Tzachas (he is known too as Çaka bey), who had formed a p... more The historical case of the Turkish emir Tzachas (he is known too as Çaka bey), who had formed a powerful principality around Smyrna, modern Izmir, is puzzling the scientific community due to lack of sources for original material on this subject. The Alexiad of Anna Komnene offers an informative account of his raids in the Aegean. Yet, various omissions and inconsistences between different parts of her book cause doubt as to how much credence one should place on her writings. The warfare activities between Dalassenos and Tzachas in the island of Chios serve as an indicative example of it. The absence of dates and the gaps in the sequence of the text make it very hard to reconstruct the event in question. The study discusses several of these problems, arguing that Anna’s narrative is focalised from the perspective of Dalassenos who is depicted as victorious in the naval operations against the Turkish emir, though the reverse appears to be true. Also an attempt will be made to throw light on the reasons behind it.
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Papers by Antonios vratimos
Attaleiates contains evidence that corroborates the desertion of the Armenian soldiers.
persons involved in the events that led to the fateful battle of
Mantzikert in 1071 – affected its outcome to a significant extent.
This article elucidates his role in Romanos IV Diogenes’s last
campaign in Asia Minor. As I demonstrate, the magister
intentionally fled from the scene. Yet, his action seems to have
been entirely irrelevant to the internal machinations of the
Doukai. Two more issues will also be considered and precede the
matter of Tarchaneiotes’s withdrawal: a) the time he was
despatched to Chliat; and b) the ethnic composition of the troops
under his command. Close inspection shows that his despatch
from the bulk of the army took place earlier than was previously
considered possible; and that his troops consisted of Armenians.
In essence, our knowledge of Tarchaneiotes in medieval literature
is restricted to those three issues.
Conference Presentations by Antonios vratimos
Attaleiates contains evidence that corroborates the desertion of the Armenian soldiers.
persons involved in the events that led to the fateful battle of
Mantzikert in 1071 – affected its outcome to a significant extent.
This article elucidates his role in Romanos IV Diogenes’s last
campaign in Asia Minor. As I demonstrate, the magister
intentionally fled from the scene. Yet, his action seems to have
been entirely irrelevant to the internal machinations of the
Doukai. Two more issues will also be considered and precede the
matter of Tarchaneiotes’s withdrawal: a) the time he was
despatched to Chliat; and b) the ethnic composition of the troops
under his command. Close inspection shows that his despatch
from the bulk of the army took place earlier than was previously
considered possible; and that his troops consisted of Armenians.
In essence, our knowledge of Tarchaneiotes in medieval literature
is restricted to those three issues.