Türkiye on August 25 marked the 952nd anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert, a pivotal historic victory for the Turks in Anatolia, in the year 1071. “I congratulate (the nation on) the 952nd anniversary of the Victory at Manzikert, the starting point of the chain of victories that took us to Vienna,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to the Battle of Vienna about six centuries later, when the Ottoman Empire reached its territorial height.”
The president added, “I commemorate Sultan Alp Arslan and his army, and all our heroes who made Anatolia our homeland, with mercy and gratitude.” He also remarked, “The truth should never be forgotten that Manzikert was no ordinary battle, no ordinary victory.”
First lady Emine Erdogan also commemorated Alp Arslan, then-sultan of the Seljuk Empire, which achieved the historic victory. “History changed when the gateway to Anatolia was opened to the Turks 952 years ago. The spirit of unity and solidarity of the victory at Manzikert, inherited from our distinguished forebears, will continue to guide future generations,” she said on X.
