Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURK KULTURU VE HACI BEKTAS VELI-ARASTIRMA DERGISI, sa.51, ss.171-188, 2009 (AHCI)
In the past, Budhism, Maniheism, Jewish, Christianity and Islam could spread among the Turkish people from the inner Asia towards the Balkans. In this manner, It is known that the Nestorianity could reach Asia and the some Turkish people accepted the Nestorian Christianity and also a Turk from Horasan became the patriarch of the Nestorian Church for a time(1281-1317). Beside that, it is also known that Turks like Huns, Bulgarians, Pecheneks, Uzes and Cuman-Kipchaks living in the North of Black Sea and in Balkans were in the interest of Byzantine Church. With the misson of this Church some Turkish people mentioned above accepted Orthodox Christianity. This was an important event for the Orthodox Church in the missionary manner but it was important in administrative manner for Byzantine Empire too. The emergence of Turks in Balkan regions created serious problems fot the Byzantine Empire. So, the Byzantines first tried to use one Turkish group against the other. In time, these Turks became a member of Byzantine army too. But before enrolling in the army, they must convert to Christianity. Because it was the prerequisite of enrolling in Byzantine army. So, they accepted Christianity and then enrolled in Byzantine army. Later, they were settled particularly at the border lands of Byzantine Empire in Anatolia, against first Arabs and Persians and then to the Turks coming from the east. In this manner, it is wellknown that there were Turkish soldiers in Byzantine army at Malazgirt Battle in 1071 and later in Mryakefalon Battle took place between Byzantine and Seljuks. The Byzantine Chronicals gives some details about these Turks enrolled in Byzantine army.