Battle of Ankara - Definition and Overview

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 Mongol king 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 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.

External links

• http://members.core.com/~turgut/ankara.htm