Yes, it's
that time again - time for a Byzantowank!
0. The Dogs of War, Unleashed
The Second Battle of Philomelion was a major Seljuk defeat, and a strategic victory for the Empire of Rhōmanía. It took place in 1176, after the Seljuk ruler, Kilij Arslan II, broke his treaty with Basileus Manuel I, refusing to hand over territory he had recently conquered. An immense army was gathered at Lopadion by the Basileus, comprising forces from the far-off Kingdom of Hungary, Rhōmanía itself and the Principality of Antioch. Soon, Manuel reached the pass of Myriokephalon, but in a moment of wisdom declined to press the attack, instead drawing Arslan's forces into the nearby plain of Philomelion[1].
The disposition of the Rhomaoi force was approximatly 35,000 men - an immense force in those times. The Seljuks numbered about 24,000, approximately 11,000 less than Manuel's army. The battle began with a massive Seljuk assault, comprising most of the army, on Manuel's right wing, but the Rhomaoi soldiers held fast and pinned down Arslan's host. The Seljuks continued their assault throughout the day, but the bulk of Manuel's army wheeled round, hitting the already-engaged Seljuks in the flank. Knowing the situation was bad, Arslan ordered a general retreat, but the order was forgotten in the chaos of battle, and in any case a lucky arrow hit him in the eye, killing him instantly, shortly afterward. The Seljuks began a chaotic rout, but approximately 15,000 men of Arslan's host (at least according to contemporary Rhomaoi sources) were killed in the confusion of the battle. Whatever the actual numbers may have been, after the battle the Seljuk commanders chose to recoup their losses and not attempt an ambush on Manuel's forces as they took the fortress of Myriokephalon and pressed toward Iconium.
The Siege of Iconium[2] that followed lasted six months, as the Romans bombarded the walls with their siege engines and starved the defenders out. At the last, in early 1177 the city fell to Manuel's armies. The population was massacred - approximately every tenth inhabitant of the city was killed in the slaughter. But more than any slaughter, the fall of Iconium, the Seljuk Capital, marked a great step forward in Rhōmanía's efforts to reclaim Anatolia. The Seljuks made various efforts, all failures, to reclaim the city until 1179, when they agreed to a treaty which saw them lose control of Iconium and the surrounding region. However, Rhōmanía had not seen the end of war, as the following centuries would prove[3]...
[1] Our POD, folks.
[2] ITTL Manuel didn't lose his siege-engines, therefore he can attack Iconium.
[3]
