In August 1071, the Byzantine Emperor Romanus IV Diogenese led out a powerful army in an attempt to roll back Seljuk Turkish incursions into the Anatolian heartland of the Empire. Outmaneuvered by the Turkish sultan, Romanus was forced to give battle with only half his troops near Manzikert. Analyzing the weapons and tactics of the very different opposing armies, this illustrated history shows how the disastrous Byzantine defeat emboldened the Turks and set the stage for the Crusades.