Danishmends-Crusader relations

One of the harshest land defences of Turkish history was given againts the Crusaders. But it wasn?t given much importance on Danişmentliler?s role in this struggle. In our paper we both tried to be closely acquinted with ?Danişmendliler? and put forward their support in land defence upon Seljuks? call by setting aside the conflicts between each other. Countless times, Turks had immigrated from their homeland, Central Asia in different times. In Anatolian migration which forms a phase of these incursions, Turks? objective was not to loot Anatolia but to settle there as their land. From the beginning of twelfth century, in European sources Anatolia?s name was stated as ?Türkiya? and it is an important indicator showing that Anatolia was a Turkish country now. With the motto of rescuing Jerusalem, The Crusades were started by Europe at the end of eleventh century. It was a military chain of cruises which had a political objective to get Turks out of the Anatolia and capture the whole Near East. Crusaders? Anatolian walk which began in 1096 continued with the foundation of the County of Urfa Crusade on 10 May 1098. Crusaders came to Antakya fronts on 20 October 1097. After seven months of resistance Antakya was gotten by Crusaders because of a betrayal in 1098. Three years after setting out, Crusaders? travel ended with the capture of Jerusalem on 15 May 1099.The first encounter of Danishments with the Crusaders was the Eskişehir Battle on July 1, 1097. Kılıç Arslan invokes the help of Hasan of the Kayseri Seljuk Lord and Danishmend Gümüştekin against the Crusade flood. With this the repeated attacks continued for years after the war, Danishmend lords repeatedly confront crusaders . Danishments , who always take part in the defense of Anatolian territory, played a major role in the administration of lord Gümüştekin especially in the struggles against the armies of the crusade in 1101. For Westerners, crusader movement in 1101 resulted in a complete rout which has a great importance affecting the whole period of the crusades. At the end of 1131 Cukurova expeditionary by Amir Ghazi, the Armenian ruler 1.leon agreed to give tribute. Amir Ghazi?s victories won against the Armenians and Crusaders were appreciated in the world of Turk-Islam. Malik Muhammad seized some of the forts, such as Gabon and Feke at the end of an expeditionary to Cukurova in 1139. Seljuk Sultan with Danişmendli Yağıbasan acted against the attack of Armenian prince to Turkey Seljuk state. But with the Taurus's obedience to report , they returned without a fight. During Crusade expeditionary II. Urfa crusader Joscelin II 's receipt as a prisoner by the Turks, Artuqid Kara Hasan with Aynüddevle take action together against the Crusaders and the Armenians. Adiyaman, palu, and Gerger Kahta were captured and many prisoners were taken (1151).Danishments played a historic role in Anatolian 's becoming Turkish homeland by giving the struggle against the Crusaders and the Armenians.Key Words: Crusades, Danishmend Ghazi, Amir Ghazi, Bohemond, Kilij Arslan