Battle of Ankara

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Battle of Ankara

Part of the Ottoman-Timurid wars

Date	July 20, 1402
Location	Çubuk Ovasi field, near Ankara
Result	Decisive Timurid victory

Combatants

Timurid Empire

Ottoman Empire

Commanders

Timur

Beyazid I

Strength

140,000 men

85,000 men <ref>Armies of the Ottoman Turks, 1300-1774 by David Nicolle, Angus MacBride (p.29) "The size of the two armies are reliably estimated at 140,000 on Timur's side and no more than 85,000 under Sultan Bayezit I."</ref>

Casualties

15,000 - 25,000 ^{[citation needed]}

15,000 - 40,000 ^{[citation needed]}

The Battle of Ankara or Battle of Angora, fought on July 20, 1402, took place at the field of Çubuk Ovasi (near Ankara) between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Beyazid I and the Turko-Mongol forces of Timur, ruler of the Timurid Empire.

Once the Turko-Mongol leader Timur had conquered Georgia and Armenia in 1390, the Ottoman Empire became his neighbour and the two powers soon came into direct conflict. When Beyazid demanded tribute from one of the Turkish emirates who had pledged loyalty to Timur and threatened him to invade; 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 Ottoman army consisted mainly of Serbs with Prince Stefan Lazarevic as their head, since most of the Turks switched to Timur's side. Also, years of insulting letters had been sent between Timur and Beyazid increasing the tension.

The battle began with a large-scale attack from the Ottomans, countered by swarms of arrows from the Timurid horse archers. Several thousands were killed and many surrendered to Timur. During the battle, the main water supply of both armies, Cubuk Creek was diverted to an off-stream reservoir near the Town of Cubuk by Timur, which left Ottoman army with no water. The final battle took place at Catal hill, dominating the Cubuk valley. The Ottoman army, both thirsty and tired, was destroyed and Sultan Beyazid was captured while he was retreating.

European nations had, at first, encouraged Timur for his invasion; the Genoese were said to be flying the Mongol standard from the walls of Galata in support of Timur. However, after a few months following his destruction of the Ottoman power in Anatolia, fear of being the next target had gripped the European people.

The Battle of Ankara had a temporary effect on the political ground of the Balkans where the Ottomans had the initiative. The siege of Constantinople was lifted and the Timurids descended on Brusa and laid waste to most of Anatolia.

This event had split the Ottomans into fractions since Bayezid's sons were still alive and free after he himself was captured. Most of the Ottoman Turks had fled into Europe. The result was a civil war among Bayezid's four sons. This temporary weakening of the Ottomans resulted in delaying the end of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman conquest of Balkans.