Alp Arsalan was a great and second sultan of Great Seljuq empire. He was a true warrior king but also a kind sultan to his enemy. His treatment of Romanos IV is totally the opposite of how Shapur I treated Valerian. He let Romanos IV to be free and send him back with gifts to Byzantine. Here is what left in history pages of their encounter after Romanos was captured. Alp Arslan: "What would you do if I was brought before you as a prisoner?" Romanos: "Perhaps I'd kill you, or exhibit you in the streets of Constantinople." Alp Arslan: "My punishment is far heavier. I forgive you, and set you free." This battle for many historians signals the beginning of the end for Byzantine empire and start of hegemony of Seljuq Turks for coming centuries in Asia minor. Please share your related coins of great seljuq or Alp Arsalan.
I remember Manzikert from my Byzantine history class taught by prof. Warren Treadgold, one of the top historians these days of the Byzantine era. I agree that this was one of the turning points of history, and presaged the complete loss of Anatolia to the Seljuqs.
Then these historians are not quite well-informed on this topic I think: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/comnenus-dynasty-and-komnenian-restoration.280513/ The Komnenians pretty much restored as much as they could, especially the rich coastal areas in Anatolia. The 4. crusade in 1204-05 shattered the empire for good and onwards the Ottomans conquered, a weakened, Byzantium.
Wow, that's a great coin! Here's my fairly miserable Alp Arslan dirham. But it's a must-have for the history based collector!
To be honest, holding a ruler and then releasing them IS more damaging than killing them, at least to the civilization. It invites civil war between the old ruler and those who replaced him.
IMO our Byzantine collectors all need an Alp Arslan. Whaddya think, @BenSi, @Valentinian, @David@PCC, @Herberto, @Mat, @AussieCollector, @Milesofwho? Of course the only "should" in collecting is that you should collect what you want. Just trying to help you towards wanting one of these.
SELJUQ OF RUM: Mas'ud I, 1116-1156, AE fals (3.96g), NM, ND, A-1192, enthroned figure obverse, holding globus cruciger & labarum, decent strike, choice VF, R. Derived from near contemporary Byzantine folles, probably of John II Comnenus. And the John II Comnenus the coin was based on. It is strange they imitated a coin that did not circulate near them, trachea ruled Asia Minor but regardless the assumption of the threads author is a century or two too early.
Sorry , No disrespect intended. Its corrected. It is in my John II collection because several articles mention it as an influenced coin. As @Herberto mentioned the empire fell because of the Crusaders and the inept ruler Alexius III and his pupet successors IsaacII and Alexius IV. The Catholic church did apologize for the fall of the Eastern Orthodox empire but in 2004. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo...says-sorry-for-crusaders-rampage-in-1204.html
