Battle of Ankara

From Exampleproblems

The Battle of Ankara or Battle of Angora, fought on July 20, 1402, took place on the field of Çubukovasi between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Beyazid I and the Mongol horde of Timur, ruler of Timurid Empire.

Once the Turko-Mongol leader Timur had conquered Georgia and Armenia in 1390, the Ottoman Empire became his neighbor, and the two powers soon came into direct confrontation. When Beyazid demanded tribute from one of a number of Turkish emirates who had pledged their loyalty to Timur and threatened to invade the emirate, Timur interpreted this action as an insult to himself, and in 1400 sacked the Ottoman city of Sebaste (modern Sivas). Beyazid was stung into furious action, and when Timur invaded Anatolia from the east, Beyazid summoned his forces and confronted him near Ankara. The Ottoman army consisted mainly of Serbs with Prince Stefan Lazarevic as a commander, since most of the Turks chose Timur's side.

The battle began with a large-scale attack from the Ottomans, countered by swarms of arrows from the Mongolian horse archers. Several thousands were killed and many surrendered to Timur's men. During the battle the well in the nearby village of Çubukovasi had been captured by the Mongols. The well was the Ottoman army's only source of water, and the Turkish generals had no choice but to try to recapture it. The Turkish army was attacked from behind and Timur Lenk could claim victory; the Turks were slaughtered and Sultan Beyazid was captured.

European nations had at first encouraged Timur in his invasion; the Genoese were said to be flying the Mongol standard from the walls of Galata in support of Timur. However, for some months following his destruction of the power of the Ottomans in Asia, fear of where Timur would attack next gripped the European peoples.

The Battle of Ankara had a temporary effect on the political ground of the Balkans where the Ottomans were concerned. The siege of Constantinople was lifted and the Mongols descended on Brusa and laid waste to almost all of Anatolia. However Mongols being nomads travelled eastwards for new conquests and if they remained they would have dealt a killing blow to the house of Othman.

It had split the Ottomans since after Bayezid was captured his sons were still alive. Most of the Turks had fled into Europe. The result was a civil war, and this temporary weakening of the Ottomans helped delay the end of the Byzantine Empire.