Battle of Myriokephalon

Battle of Myriokephalon
	Part of the Byzantine–Seljuq Wars
	; This image by Gustave Doré shows the Turkish ambush at the pass of Myriokephalon.
Date	17 September 1176
Location	Pass of Tzivritze, near the fortress of Myriokephalon (not presently identified), west of Konya, Anatolia
Result	Seljuk victory Military balance maintained;
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire; Hungary; Principality of Antioch; Principality of Serbia	Sultanate of Rum
Commanders and leaders
Manuel I Komnenos Andronikos Kontostephanos; Baldwin of Antioch †; John Kantakouzenos †; Andronikos Lampardas; Theodore Mavrozomes; Constantine Makrodoukas; Ampud; Leustach Rátót;	Kilij Arslan II
Strength
25,000–40,000	Unknown (likely smaller)
Casualties and losses
Approx. 1⁄4 of the army or half of those troops who were directly attacked (left and right wings only),; possibly heavy	Unknown

The Battle of Myriokephalon (also known as the Battle of Myriocephalum, Greek: Μάχη του Μυριοκέφαλου, Turkish: Miryokefalon Savaşı or Düzbel Muharebesi) was a battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Turks in the mountains west of Iconium (Konya) in southwestern Turkey on 17 September 1176. The battle was a strategic reverse for the Byzantine forces, who were ambushed when moving through a mountain pass.

It was to be the final, unsuccessful effort by the Byzantines to recover the interior of Anatolia from the Seljuk Turks.

^ The battle was decisive in that it saved the Seljuk Sultanate but the military balance between the two belligerents was not greatly affected by its outcome. The bulk of Byzantine Asia Minor was retained for more than a century after the battle. Magdalino 1993, p. 99. "Whatever he [Manuel] said in the moment of defeat, it was not a disaster on the scale of Manzikert… Even Choniates admits that the frontier in Asia Minor did not collapse."
^ Haldon 2001, p. 198.
^ Birkenmeier, p. 180.
^ Hendy 1985, p. 128.
^ Birkenmeier 2002, p. 131.
^ Magdalino 1993, p. 98. "The defeat which it suffered in the narrows of Tzibritze, a day's march from Konya, near the ruined fort of Myriokephalon, was correspondingly humiliating. The Turks made great slaughter, took great quantity of booty, and came close to capturing the Emperor himself who gratefully accepted the sultan's offer of a truce in return of demolishing Dorylaion and Sublaion."
^ Bradbury 2004, p. 176. "With Manuel were Hungarian allies and his brother-in-law Baldwin of Antioch. Baldwin charged but was killed. The Byzantines suffered heavy losses. Kilij Arslan offered terms and the Byzantines were allowed to withdraw."

[1] The battle was decisive in that it saved the Seljuk Sultanate but the military balance between the two belligerents was not greatly affected by its outcome. The bulk of Byzantine Asia Minor was retained for more than a century after the battle. Magdalino 1993, p. 99. "Whatever he [Manuel] said in the moment of defeat, it was not a disaster on the scale of Manzikert… Even Choniates admits that the frontier in Asia Minor did not collapse."

[Haldon198-2] Haldon 2001, p. 198.

[Birkenmeier,_p._132-3] Birkenmeier, p. 180.

[Hendy_1985_128-4] Hendy 1985, p. 128.

[Birkenmeier_2002_131-5] Birkenmeier 2002, p. 131.

[6] Magdalino 1993, p. 98. "The defeat which it suffered in the narrows of Tzibritze, a day's march from Konya, near the ruined fort of Myriokephalon, was correspondingly humiliating. The Turks made great slaughter, took great quantity of booty, and came close to capturing the Emperor himself who gratefully accepted the sultan's offer of a truce in return of demolishing Dorylaion and Sublaion."

[7] Bradbury 2004, p. 176. "With Manuel were Hungarian allies and his brother-in-law Baldwin of Antioch. Baldwin charged but was killed. The Byzantines suffered heavy losses. Kilij Arslan offered terms and the Byzantines were allowed to withdraw."

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]