Byzantine eastern policy in the period of Aleksios Comnenous (1081-1118)

Established in a region where Asia and Europe intersect, the Byzantine Empire, which is the continuation of the Roman Empire, has managed to remain on the stage of history for about 11 centuries, from its establishment in 330 to 1453, when its political life ended. Due to its location, it has been subjected to pressure from various tribes from the east, west, north and south throughout history. With the Migration of Tribes, the threats of the European Huns, Avar, Bulgar, Pecheneg, Kuman and Kipchak tribes in the north continued to be an important threat to the Empire in the northern borders for many centuries. At the end of the 10th century, with the beginning of the Seljuk Turks descending from Turan to Iran and accepting Islam, an incomparable enemy emerged for the Eastern Roman Empire on its eastern borders this time. Seljuk Turks, who started to organize in Transoxiana and Horosan, began to appear in the borders of Anatolia in a short time. The Eastern Roman Empire, which did not pay much attention to this threat before, realized the seriousness of the Turkish danger with the strengthening of the Great Seljuk State and the defeat in the Pasinler War. From this moment on, one of the most important goals of the Eastern Roman Empire was to drive the Turks away from its eastern borders. Romanian Diogenes, who was enthroned with great excitement and hope, started his preparations to expel the Turks from Anatolia. Sultan Alparslan, who received the news of the Emperor who set out by gathering a large army, was about to go to Egypt, but he gave up on this decision and took action by preparing his army. Turkish domination in Anatolia started with the defeat of Roman Diogenes by Sultan Alparslan in the Battle of Manzikert on August 26, 1071. After the struggle for the throne, Alexios I Komnenos came to the throne in 1081. This emperor, who would remain on the throne until 1118, was almost influential on the fate of the Eastern Roman Empire. Although the empire was weakened militarily, politically and economically, it managed to survive thanks to the diplomacy it followed. Among the first goals of Alexios I Komnenos were to restore the empire to its former power and to expel the Turks from Anatolia.