To commemorate the 955th anniversary of the Victory of Manzikert, the Directorate of Communications is organising a panel discussion titled “The Victory of Manzikert on Its 955th Anniversary” and a book launch event. The programme will commence at 09.00 on 27 August 2026 at the headquarters of the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, where the Directorate’s publication, Malazgirt Zaferi: Türklerin Savaş Hüneri ve Sanat Estetiği (The Manzikert Victory: Turkish Prowess in Warfare and Artistic Aesthetics), will be presented to the public for the first time.
The panel discussion entitled "The Victory of Manzikert on Its 955th Anniversary" to be held as part of the programme, will bring to light all aspects of the Victory of Manzikert. The panel will be moderated by the President of the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, Ambassador Prof. Derya Örs, and will feature academics as speakers. The President of the Turkish Historical Society (incumbent 2015-2020), Prof. Refik Turan, Prof. Güray Kırpık of Gazi University, and Prof. Cevdet Yakupoğlu of Kastamonu University will discuss in depth the military, political and civilisational dimensions of the Victory of Manzikert.
The book "The Victory of Manzikert: Turkish Prowess in Warfare and Artistic Aesthetics" to be unveiled to the public
"The Victory of Manzikert: Turkish Prowess in Warfare and Artistic Aesthetics" is presented to readers as a comprehensive work comprising five main chapters, documenting the historic turning point that opened the gates of Anatolia through military strategy, statecraft, architectural aesthetics, archaeological findings and literary heritage. Beyond presenting the 1071 Battle of Manzikert merely as a military triumph, the book discusses the Seljuk state structure and the graceful architecture spanning from madrasahs to caravanserais, as well as its lasting reflections on literature and the press.
Manzikert and Seljuk Civilisation in five chapters
The first chapter features Sultan Alp Arslan’s historic Manzikert sermon, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s address on the “Spirit of Manzikert”, and a lead article by Prof. Cihan Piyadeoğlu that explores the heroism of the Turkish army and the legacy of Sultan Alp Arslan. In the second chapter, historical accounts from Bughyat al-Ṭalab fi Tarikh Ḥalab: The History of Aleppo are presented as translated by Prof. Ali Sevim, followed by Prof. Mehmet Altay Köymen’s analysis of the Seljuk state structure and İsmail Hami Danişmend’s review of the four-century historical preparation leading to the conquest of İstanbul.
The third chapter features Osman Turan’s article on Seljuk caravanserais, Prof. Nermin Şaman Doğan’s review of madrasas and darüşşifas (hospitals), and İsmet Binark’s analysis of painting and miniature art, alongside innovative research exploring the reinterpretation of the "Turkic Triangle" and Ahlat tombstones through digital design and contemporary production techniques. The fourth chapter documents the anniversary commemorations of the victory, the Ahlat Presidential Complex, archaeological excavations at Manzikert, press coverage, and commemorative stamps and coins issued to mark the victory, while the fifth chapter elevates the victory’s spiritual and literary dimensions through the prayer (khutba) delivered in the name of the Abbasid Caliph al-Qa’im bi-Amr Allah, “Alparslan’ın Rûhuna Gazel” (“A Ghazal in Memory of Alparslan”) by Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, and “Malazgirt Marşı” (“Manzikert March”) by Niyazi Yıldırım Gençosmanoğlu.
A bridge from the prowess of warfare to civilisational aesthetics
“The Victory of Manzikert: Turkish Prowess in Warfare and Artistic Aesthetics” demonstrates how the Turks combined superior tactical discipline on the battlefield with an understanding of just direction and administration of affairs. The book vividly reveals how the victory was crowned by a rich aesthetic tradition, spanning from caravanserais, hospitals, and architectural forms to miniature painting and the art of stone craftsmanship. Highlighting the Manzikert Victory’s potential in providing the aesthetic foundations for a deeply rooted civilisation that would flourish across Anatolia for centuries, the book examines its military legacy in conjunction with its artistic refinement, revealing the full grandeur of the victory.
The book, which will be introduced to the public through a dedicated launch programme, aims to serve as a principal reference work for the media, academia, and the wider cultural and artistic community.