In 1064, the Seljuk Sultan, Alp Arslan, besieged the fortified city of Ani. After a siege of 25 days, the Seljuks captured the city.
Background In 961, king Ashot III (953–77) transferred the capital from Kars to Ani. Ani expanded rapidly during the reign of King Smbat II economically and culturally.Oktay Belli, p. 58–9. In the 10th century, the population was perhaps 50,000–100,000.Redgate, Anne Elizabeth. The Armenians. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1998, p. 210. Its renown was such that it was known as the "city of forty gates" and the "city of a thousand and one churches." Ani also became the site of the royal mausoleum of Bagratuni kings.Manuk-Khaloyan, Armen, "In the Cemetery of Their Ancestors: The Royal Burial Tombs of the Bagratuni Kings of Greater Armenia (890-1073/79)", Revue des Études Arméniennes 35 (2013): 147–155.
In 1045, the Byzantine emperor, Constantine IX Monomachos, organized a new expedition for the conquest of the city. assisted by the shaddadid ruler, Abu'l-Aswar Shavur ibn Fadl. The Armenian king, Gagik II, was invited by the emperor to Constantinople, declaring he would be made ruler of Ani and Shirak. Gagik accepted, and thus Ani fell to the Byzantines; however, it was a ruse. The Byzantines deposed Bagratuni dynasty and other local people and appointed mercenaries to rule the city.Oktay Belli, p. 61-2
During this time, the Seljuks began a military expedition to northeastern Anatolia under Ibrahim Inal and Tughril I.Oktay Belli, p. 62 Prelude
The newly consolidated Seljuk sultan, Alp Arslan, aimed to increase the size of his borders in 1064, beginning with the wealthy neighboring regions of Armenia and Iberia. Setting out to mount a campaign, he gathered skilled Arab and Persian technicians to outfit his army with siege engines.Byzantine Battles, Capture of Ani (1064)
Ani served as the campaign's strategic goal. The Sultan proceeded in a circle, subduing the mountainous regions north of Ani before moving on to Georgia, where he defeated and vassalized King Bagrat IV. Before that, the Byzantine strongholds in the Araxes Valley and further west were taken by another division led by Vizier Nizam al-Mulk and Malik-Shah I. These two Seljuk armies joined together on Ani at the start of July 1064.
Siege The city was commanded by two Byzantine generals, Duke Bagrat and Gregory.Frederick William Bussell, p. 454 The city was said to be impossible to conquer.Oktay Belli, p. 62 The city was located on a rocky peninsula overhanging a rapid river. A deep ravine to the west of the river protected the city.George Finlay, p. 18 The Seljuks began setting up their tents, and the garrison cavalry initially thought they were merchants. However, they realized the truth, and they fled to the city.Oktay Belli, p. 62
The defenders were ill-prepared and in short supply, which put them in a difficult situation. In addition, supplies were scarce, and there was a strained relationship between the populace and the commanders.George Finlay, p. 18 According to Ibn al-Athir, the sultan, realizing he could not breach the walls, ordered the construction of battering rams, placed hay on top of them, and had the soldiers inside to attack.Oktay Belli, p. 63
Meanwhile, the Seljuks managed to destroy a portion of the walls due to undermining works with underground tunnels. The Seljuks entered the city on August 16 after a siege of 25 days.Oktay Belli, p. 63 The defenders of the walls escaped and fortified themselves for a while in the citadel, but later escaped. The commanders of the city were captured.Oktay Belli, p. 63
An account of the sack and massacres in Ani is given by the Turkish historian Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, who quotes an eyewitness saying:
Aftermath The massive silver cross from the Ani Cathedral was taken down and set down on the Nakhichevan Mosque's doorstep so that worshippers could tread on it as they entered. Alp Arslan made his first Friday prayer in the cathedral, which changed its name to Fethiye Mosque.Oktay Belli, p. 63 However, the city was quickly rebuilt. The Sultan had a portion of the prisoners rebuild the destroyed houses and walls and occupy them with new settlers.Frederick William Bussell, p. 454
The Abbasid caliph, Al-Qa'im, praised the Sultan for his victory and gave him the title "Abul-Fath."Oktay Belli, p. 63 The Armenian king of Kars, Gagik, pledged allegiance to the Sultan; however, he left the city and gave his lands to the Byzantines.Oktay Belli, p. 64Frederick William Bussell, p. 454George Finlay, p. 18 References
Sources Oktay Belli (2021), Ani in Every Aspect. Frederick William Bussell (1910), The Roman Empire, Essays on the Constitutional History from the Accession of Domitian (81 A. D.) to the Retirement of Nicephorus III (1081 A.D.). George Finlay (1877), The Byzantine and Greek empires, pt. 2, A.D. 1057-1453.