Without Jihad, the Nation of Turkey Wouldn't Exist

American Thinker.com ^ | August 26, 2021 | Raymond Ibrahim

[Kaslin]

The two forces eventually met near the city of Manzikert, just north of Lake Van. Sultan Muhammad bin Dawud sent a delegation to parley with Romanus on "the pretext of peace," though in reality, he was "stalling for time," explained Michael Attaleiates, who was present. This only "roused the emperor to war."

Romanus spurned the emissaries, forced them to prostrate themselves before him, and commanded them to tell their sultan that "there will be no treaty ... and no going home except after I have done in the lands of Islam the like of what has been done in the lands of Rome [Asia Minor]." Then, having "dismissed the ambassador with the greatest contempt," Romanus incited his men to war with "words of extraordinary violence."

Muhammad exhorted his men to jihad and reminded them of its win-win promise: "If we are given victory over them, [well and good]. If not, we will go as martyrs to the Garden." "We are with you!" cried the men in unison when he finished his harangue, followed by a barrage of "Allah akbars" that reportedly "shook the mountains."

Thus, as "martial music resounded from both sides and the dust of the battlefield billowed up like clouds in the sky," the two armies met on that fateful Friday, August 26, 1071.

The battle ensued in the usual way: Turkic horseman, in a crescent formation that hid their fewer numbers, sped forward and unleashed volleys of arrows, before swiftly retreating. Throngs of Christian men and their horses fell; some even broke rank and fled. Undaunted, Romanus maintained the line and marched his forces forward, but because the Muslims had unlimited terrain to fall back on, the Christian army never managed to corner and finish them off,

[livius]

And Turkey is clapping its hands right now. It is expected to gain huge influence in European affairs from this as a result of its being considered by the Taliban to be an ally and thus a conduit to Europe. The current Turkish government is openly dreaming of the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire.

To make it worse, I read that the Vatican had sent emissaries to Turkey recently to discuss the Afghanistan situation with the Turks, ostensibly to set up a protected corridor for aid workers, but really just to affirm Turkey’s power.. Bergoglio submitted to Islam long ago and has issued some statements and even documents (Abu Dhabi) that should have gotten him thrown off the roof of Castle Sant’ Angelo for heresy. Bergoglio was not in the least disturbed when the Turks returned the Hagia Sophia back to Islamic use and does everything he can to privilege Islam.

One of our problems in the West is that we don’t even have a Romanus, anybody who will try to fight back…and the Turks are still our enemies.

[ChronicMA]

These historical articles by Raymond Ibrahim are so fun to read. If you love the history of Islam versus Christendom go to the archives of American Thinker and read the many articles he has written.