the battle of manzikert, or malazgirt (turkish: "malazgirt sav") was fought between the byzantine empire and then seljuq empire. the seljuq forces attacked on august 26, 1071 near manzikert, (modern malazgirt, turkey). its result was one of the most decisive defeats of the byzantine empire and the capture of the byzantine emperor romanos iv diogenes. the battle of manzikert played an important role in breaking the byzantine resistance and preparing the way for the turkish settlement in anatolia.