Throughout human history, many states and societies have achieved numerous successes that have left their mark on history, particularly in terms of their own existence. Various communities have established their national qualities through the gains they have achieved in historical experience. Throughout history, these accomplishments have given them names and characters, and they, in turn, have given names to history.
In this context, the Turks have become a nation that has gained a name and character throughout their history, becoming a people who have given their name not only to their own history but also to world history. Their attributes have been shaped through the civilization elements they have produced as a result of their life experiences and their direct influences on world history.
With the acceptance of Islam by the Turkic tribes and their adoption of it as a life purpose, history began to be written by the Turks. The idealized type of believer human being portrayed by the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an was shaped by the Turks as “gazi” and “alp.” This spirit made the Turks the most important actors in history and bestowed upon them the power to shape world history. The Seljuk state saved the Abbasid caliphate from the Shiite Buyid and Fatimid threats and, by securing the political and religious power of the Abbasid caliph, obtained the mission of carrying the banner of Islam.
Nurtured by this spirit, the nation with a history of thousands of years has bestowed great empires, victories, and names upon its history. Among the most notable are the important achievements obtained in the month of August, which we refer to as the “Month of Victory” in our history. The achievements of the Turkish nation on the stage of history, the struggles during periods we consider as turning points and breaking points, were written in the month of August, named as a victory month as if by divine fate.
During the month of August, the Turks achieved significant victories, including the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the Battle of Otlukbeli in 1473, the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514, the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516, the Conquest of Belgrade in 1521, the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the Conquest of Cyprus in 1571, and the Great Offensive in 1922. They earned the rightful name of “Victory Month” for the month of August.
Most of these victories that have given glory to our history are important and valuable in terms of their political, social, and economic significance. However, undoubtedly, the two most important victories in terms of cause and effect in history are the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071 and the Great Offensive on August 30.
Especially, the Battle of Malazgirt is of great importance for the establishment of Anatolia as a land for Muslim Turks. Emperor Romanos Diogenes, who had just ascended to the Byzantine throne, launched a major campaign to crown his reign with a great victory and to restore Byzantine authority, which was shaken by Turkish raids in Anatolia. According to historical sources, the Byzantine army had a force of approximately 200-300 thousand soldiers. This army was composed of Pechenegs, Uzes, Kipchaks, and Khazars, as well as Slavs, Germans, Bulgarians, Franks, Armenians, and Georgians, and it was equipped with the best weapons.
When the Byzantine army moved, the Seljuk army under Sultan Alp Arslan was on a campaign in Egypt and laying siege to Aleppo. Upon hearing the news that Emperor Romanos Diogenes was advancing with a large army toward the Malazgirt plain, Sultan Alp Arslan left his campaign in Egypt and marched against the Byzantine army. At the same time, Abbasid Caliph Qaim-Biemrillah prepared a prayer text for the victory of the Battle of Malazgirt by Alp Arslan and ordered it to be read from the pulpits of all Islamic countries during the Friday prayer.
Following the advice of Buharalı Abu Nasr Muhammad, who recommended attacking the enemy on Friday, the day when all Muslims pray for the victory of Islam, Sultan Alp Arslan, along with his army, performed the Friday prayer and, dressed in a white robe, which he said, “Let this be my shroud if I die,” stood before his soldiers.
Despite being numerically outnumbered, the Turkish army achieved a great victory in the Battle of Malazgirt, which took place at Rahve. The Byzantine ruler was taken as a prisoner.
The Battle of Malazgirt is the most important battle that Seljuks and Oghuz Turks won against Byzantium after embracing Islam, in terms of both Islam and the Turkish nation. The most significant aspect of this battle was the shattering of the political power and authority of Byzantium in Anatolia, allowing Turkish communities conducting raids and jihad activities in Anatolia to establish a permanent homeland. In fact, just four years after the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, the Seljuk State of Rum was founded in Nicaea, near Istanbul, in 1075.
As a result of this battle, the doors of Anatolia were completely opened to the Turkish tribes, and the Turkish nation began to build its own civilization and establish an existence that no one could ever uproot from these lands. Anatolia would now be developed by Muslim Turks, villages and cities would be established, and madrasas, tekkes (lodges), zaviyas (sufi convents), and imarets (charitable foundations) would be built. Many famous statesmen, scholars, and thinkers would emerge in Anatolia. With this spirit and purpose, not only Seljuks and Ottomans but also many other Turkish states would be established in Anatolian lands that would go down in history.
It can be said that the Conquest of Istanbul began with the Battle of Malazgirt. Especially after the defeat in Malazgirt, Byzantium began to experience political dissolution, and its state traditions suffered disruption. Until the Conquest of Istanbul in 1453, Byzantium continued to exist as a weakened state.
Despite numerous struggles aimed at erasing the Turkish presence from Anatolia, the Crusader idea made its last and greatest attempt by opening fronts in various parts of Turkish territories and launching an invasion from western Anatolia. The “seven powers,” as described by our national poet and historians, mounted this major crusade, which advanced its invasion attempt to the outskirts of the capital Ankara, posing the deepest threat to our existence. An attempt was made to usurp our right to live on this land, and a desire arose to erase our existence from the stage of history.
The people of Anatolia, realizing that their right to life on this land was not wanted, initiated the National Struggle by putting forth their entire existence and reviving their ancient spirit. Men and women, old and young, and children all embraced the National Struggle with their faith, writing an unprecedented epic of heroism.
As our great poet Namık Kemal expressed in the verse “Don’t think nature has changed, this blood is still that blood,” this noble nation showed the world that the spirit, blood, and faith that achieved great successes in its history have not changed.
With all their heart, possessions, and faith, the nation launched the Great Offensive on August 30, 1922, to defend the land they had nurtured with their blood for centuries and to end enemy occupation.
This all-encompassing struggle launched by an entire nation, with its life, property, and unwavering faith, culminated in victory. The greatest invasion attempt in history by the Crusader army was finally defeated by the ultimate victory of the Muslim Turkish existence. Once again, history repeated itself, and this ancient nation once again achieved a great victory in the month of August.
The month of August has once again added another great success to its rightful title of “Month of Victory.” It has been inscribed once again in the pages of history and in the memory of all people of the world as the month of victory for the Muslim Turks.
