Normanlar, “Gesta Roberti Wiscardi” ve Malazgirt Savaşı

Abstract

In the second half of the 11th century, while the Byzantine Empire was struggling with Turks for Anatolia in the east, it lost its last territory in Italy in the west and was trying to stop the Normans from advancing towards the Balkans. The Norman threat from the west prevented Byzantium from mobilizing its military forces in the Balkans entirely for Anatolia. Therefore, it so happened that the Normans played a role in favor of the Turks in the Battle of Manzikert. Gesta Roberti Wiscardi, which was written by Guillaume d’Apulie / William of Apulia, is one of the most significant Latin-Norman sources whose main theme is the existence of Normans in South Italy and especially the political control of Robert Guiscard in that region. This work, which is contemporary with the battle of Manzikert, essentially aims to increase the dignity and bravery of Robert Guiscard. Naturally this work also contains information on Byzantium and the battle of Manzikert. In our article, the Norman source, Gesta Roberti Wiscardi will be evaluated in terms of its importance and its information related to the battle of Manzikert.