On Wednesday, August 26, 2026 — the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a highly symbolic speech in Malazgirt (modern-day eastern Turkey), declaring that “history is being rewritten” in the region. The 1071 battle, in which Seljuk Turks decisively defeated the Byzantine Empire, has long served as a foundational moment in Turkish nationalist historiography — and Erdoğan invoked it to frame Turkey’s contemporary geopolitical ambitions.
‘Breaking Byzantium’s Rusty Lock’
Speaking at the historic site, Erdoğan opened his address with a dramatic metaphor: “We stand here with you in Manzikert, where we broke Byzantium’s rusty lock with the key of faith and opened Anatolia’s main gate.” He then offered blessings for the 955th anniversary of what he termed “our victory” — a phrasing that reflects Ankara’s enduring narrative of the battle as a civilizational turning point.
The Symbolism of the Horse’s Tail
Erdoğan went on to invoke an ancient Turkish military tradition: binding the tail of a horse before battle — a symbolic act representing unwavering resolve, willingness to face death, and refusal to retreat until victory is achieved. “As a nation, we have a very old tradition,” he said. “When launching a campaign, when embarking on a path, when undertaking a mission, we bind our horse’s tail — to show that no matter what happens, we will not turn back; we will go all the way to the end.”
He applied this imagery directly to Turkey’s current political agenda: building “Turkey’s Century,” eliminating terrorism both domestically and across the broader region, and restoring peace and stability to areas affected by conflict. “We have bound our horse’s tail to make this region — where we stand — once again a place of peace and tranquility,” he stated. “We have bound our horse’s tail to remove the daggers that terrorism has driven into our eternal brotherhood.”
A Message to Friends and Foes Alike
In closing, Erdoğan issued a broad, assertive message aimed equally at allies and adversaries: “Let everyone — friends and enemies alike — know and understand: history is being rewritten in our region.” The speech underscores Turkey’s increasingly self-confident posture in regional affairs, rooted in historical narratives that emphasize continuity between past empires and present-day statecraft.