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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The 954th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Manzikert were held as memorial events in the district of Ahlat in Bitlis and the district of Malazgirt in Muş between 22 and 26 August 2025. These celebrations were organized in commemoration of the Battle of Manzikert, won by the Seljuks against the Byzantine Empire in 1071, under the patronage of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye and led by the Okçular Foundation.
The central venues for the celebrations were designated as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden in Ahlat and the Historical National Park of the Battle of Manzikert in Malazgirt. Thematic tents adorned with Seljuk-era symbols, a khan’s pavilion, a mosque, and cultural spaces were established in these areas. Throughout the events, sports competitions, demonstrations, cultural performances, and activities for children were conducted. Visitors from all 81 provinces of Türkiye as well as guests from other countries participated in the program.
Preparations for the 954th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Manzikert were completed by 21 August 2025. In the Çarho neighborhood of Ahlat, the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden hosted the “Sultan Alp Arslan Pavilion,” along with the construction of a mosque, a recitation hall, a bridge, and an archery area reflecting Seljuk architecture. In the Historical National Park of the Battle of Manzikert in Malazgirt, Muş, a khan’s pavilion decorated with Seljuk motifs and 16 thematic tents were prepared.
To add symbolic meaning, 1,071 flowers and 1,071 pine saplings were planted in the Historical National Park of the Battle of Manzikert. Additionally, over a thousand special pine saplings were planted, transforming the park into a permanent green space. The total area of the park is approximately 237 hectares.
The commemoration program began on 22 August 2025 with an opening ceremony featuring a performance by the Mehter Band of Konya Metropolitan Municipality and recitation of the Qur’an. Fifty thematic tents were set up at the event sites, showcasing regional products from each province, traditional crafts, and cultural activities. Children’s play areas, archery sections, a crafts bazaar, and archery workshops were opened to visitors. For security and logistical arrangements during the preparation phase, gendarmerie, police, and mounted units were deployed.
At the opening ceremony of the commemorations, speeches were delivered by Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya, AK Party Member of Parliament for Bitlis Turan Bedirhanoğlu, and Ahlat Mayor Yavuz Gülmez.
In addition to state officials, mayors, district governors, university rectors, and numerous bureaucrats attended the commemorations. Security at the event sites was provided by gendarmerie, police, and mounted units.
Traditional Turkish sports were featured in the 954th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Manzikert. Equestrian archery, javelin throwing, kökbörü, mounted combat arts, horsemanship, wrestling, and horse racing were held at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden in Ahlat and the Historical National Park of the Battle of Manzikert in Malazgirt. Javelin demonstrations were organized at the Ahlat hippodrome, with athletes from Erzurum, Konya, and other provinces participating in these competitions.
Turkish Air Force’s aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars, performed flight demonstrations over the skies of Ahlat and the Malazgirt Battlefield Historical National Park. A crescent and star formation was traced in the sky, and pilots announced the celebration of the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert at the conclusion of their performances. Citizens recorded the displays using their mobile phones.
Cultural programs were also part of the celebrations. Over fifty thematic tents erected in Ahlat showcased regional products from various provinces, introduced traditional crafts, and featured traditional cuisine. A han courtyard, a mosque built in Seljuk architectural style, a khanqah, and a bridge were also located within the event area. Women from different provinces of Anatolia participated dressed in traditional attire and presented their local products to visitors.
Various areas were prepared for children and youth. At the “Köyvıvor” course established in Malazgirt, games such as tug-of-war, sack racing, mangala, hoop rolling, and mini golf were played. Traditional games from the past were introduced on a dedicated game track, and competitions in wrestling and taekwondo were held.
The celebrations began on 22 August with a performance by the Mehter Band of the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and recitation of the Qur’an. Folk dance groups performed in various areas, and gendarmerie and police units presented motorcycle stunt shows. Police motorcycle units from Ankara’s Security Directorate performed the Zeybek dance, and lantern processions were held in the evening.
Visitors from all 81 provinces of Türkiye and various other countries attended the 954th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Manzikert.
The celebration areas were decorated with Turkish and Palestinian flags as well as banners representing Turkish tribes. Regional products were presented in the tents, and participants from different regions of Anatolia showcased their own cultures. Children and youth participated in competitions held on game tracks and courses. Tug-of-war, mangala, hoop rolling, and taekwondo contests stood out in this context.
On 25 August, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended events held in Ahlat district of Bitlis to mark the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert. The events were organized by the Archers Foundation and took place at the Ahlat Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden.
The program began with recitation of the Qur’an, followed by official ceremonies held on the site. Alongside the Turkish flag, the flags of the Seljuks and Palestine were also displayed. The Gendarmerie General Command Mehter Ensemble performed marches during the ceremony, while citizens accompanied the performance holding Turkish flags. A large number of citizens from various provinces attended the event, which was held with high participation. After delivering his speech as part of the program, President Erdoğan, accompanied by his delegation, moved to the Han Inn.
In his speech, President Erdoğan expressed his delight at being in Ahlat on the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert. He said, “Through your efforts, I send my greetings and affection to my citizens across every corner of our country from Ahlat, the gateway to Anatolia and the ancient settlement revered as the dome of Islam.” He thanked members of the Archers Foundation, municipalities, associations, and foundations for their contributions to organizing the event.
Referring to the historical significance of Ahlat, he stated, “Today we are in Ahlat, the land of heroes, the gathering place of veterans, and the territory of martyrs. Today we stand in our ancestral city where Ertuğrul Gazi was born. I remember with reverence our ancestors who made Ahlat a homeland through their swords, pens, and works, who turned this land first into the base of the conquest of Manzikert and then into the base of the conquest of Anatolia. May our Lord grant their souls joy and their resting places paradise. I wish to share this truth: the graves, domes, monuments, and all other works here are not merely cultural heritage—they are the strongest witnesses to our thousand-year presence on these lands. Each of these works embodies our national and spiritual values.”
President Erdoğan noted that in Ahlat, knowledge is united with wisdom, and art and craftsmanship are united with ethics and morality. “The clearest symbols of this truth are the stone tombs in the Seljuk Cemetery. One distinctive feature of these structures, crafted in a style and language far beyond their time and rich in wisdom, is that the noble verses of the Qur’an are inscribed only on the tombstones of the martyrs, while the coffins are adorned with the noble Hadiths of our Prophet, the Messenger of Mercy, sent as blessings to all worlds. This is undoubtedly an expression of profound reverence and a reflection of a deeply conscious character.”
President Erdoğan expressed the symbolic importance of Ahlat for the Turkish nation as follows: “Ahlat is the symbol of our eternal and everlasting presence on these lands. For the Turkish nation, Ahlat is the key to the Golden Apple. One of the towns that tell us who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed is Ahlat. Ahlat, where our ancestors lived, breathed, and accurately read their time, is the bridge of faith, culture, and civilization built from a thousand years ago to today. Every square meter is watered by the blood of our martyrs; the flags standing like rows of mountains on the bosom of our sacred homeland point to our honored martyrs. On this occasion, I remember with reverence and gratitude all our martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives and blood for this homeland, for this noble crescent, and for the independence and future of this honored nation—from the Battle of Manzikert to the Battle of Çaldıran, from the War of Independence to the July 15 epic.”
Emphasizing unity and solidarity, Erdoğan said, “History is filled with countless examples proving that when Turks, Kurds, and Arabs stand united and together, when we love each other for the sake of Allah, and when we march collectively toward our shared goals, we have achieved remarkable successes both within and beyond our borders.” He cited examples such as Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, Sultan Alp Arslan, Yavuz Sultan Selim, and the Gallipoli resistance to illustrate how this shared spirit has led to numerous historical triumphs. “The knot at Manzikert was untied by this spirit. The gates of Jerusalem were opened by this spirit. Istanbul was conquered by this spirit. The same spirit made Gallipoli impassable. Our national struggle that brought seven empires to their knees, despite all impossibilities, reached victory through this same spirit.”
At the end of his speech, President Erdoğan announced that, under the directives of MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, an institute named “Conquest and Roots: Ahlat/Manzikert Studies Institute” would be established within the MHP headquarters. He stated that the establishment of this institute is an important development and expressed his hope that it would be blessed and successful.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Seljuk Courtyard Cemetery in Ahlat district of Bitlis as part of the 954th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Manzikert. The cemetery is listed on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage and is recognized as one of the largest Turkish-Islamic cemeteries in the world.
Erdoğan greeted families of martyrs and veterans at the cemetery entrance, conversed with them, and posed for commemorative photographs. During the visit, he paid respects to a unit under the General Command of the Gendarmerie, which was standing guard in Seljuk Alp attire, and listened to the soldiers’ traditional Seljuk-era salute.
President Erdoğan offered prayers for the martyrs in the area where the deceased are buried and posed for photographs with those accompanying him. As part of the improvements made to the cemetery grounds, new walking paths and information points were established, and visitors extensively explored the area. The Seljuk Square Cemetery has also been described as “the seal of Anatolia” and experienced a surge of visitors from across the country concurrently with the Malazgirt anniversary events. Visitors examined historical tombstones inscribed with texts and decorations, offered prayers for their ancestors, and took photographs.
Among the crowds of visitors, participants from various provinces shared their sentiments, describing Ahlat and the cemetery as “a place where the memory of ancestors remains alive.”
During his program in Ahlat, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Devlet Bahçeli, General Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The meeting took place at the State Bey House in the Emir Bayındır Campus.
This approximately 45-minute visit was conducted behind closed doors. No official statement was released regarding its content, but it was reported that the meeting was held in the context of the Malazgirt Victory events.
Following the meeting, Erdoğan spoke with citizens waiting for him at the exit of the campus, greeted them, and distributed toys to children. This interaction highlighted not only the political dimension of the visit but also its direct engagement with the public.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Ahlat was accompanied by a broad political and administrative delegation. President’s Assistant Cevdet Yılmaz participated in the program.
Among political party leaders were MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Great Unity Party General Chairman Mustafa Destici, Free Cause Party General Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, and Democratic Left Party General Chairman Önder Aksakal.
Director of Religious Affairs Professor Dr. Ali Erbaş was also among those attending the ceremony. Additionally, members of the Presidential Cabinet, commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces, and governors of regional provinces were present at the program.
The commemoration program for the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert was held on August 26, 2025, at the Manzikert Field Battle Historical National Park in the Malazgirt district of Muş, under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.
The commemoration program began with a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs, followed by the recitation of the Independence March. Following the opening ceremony, a performance was presented by the Jandarma General Command Mehteran Unit.
Following the official opening, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech. In his address, Erdoğan highlighted the symbolic and contemporary significance of the Battle of Manzikert.
After the President’s speech, Hüseyin Topbaş, President of the Archers Foundation, delivered his address. In his remarks, he emphasized the historical importance of the victory and the national values to be passed on to future generations.
As part of the program, gifts were presented in memory of the day. Hüseyin Topbaş, President of the Archers Foundation, presented gifts to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party. Following the gift-giving ceremony, a prayer was offered by Ali Erbaş, President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs.
High-ranking state officials, political party leaders, and representatives of various institutions attended the commemoration program for the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presided over the program. Among those accompanying him were Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, and Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak.
Representing the Justice and Development Party, AK Party Deputy Chairmen Efkan Ala and Mustafa Elitaş were present. Also in attendance were Devlet Bahçeli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Mustafa Destici, Chairman of the Great Unity Party (BBP); Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, Chairman of the Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR); and Önder Aksakal, Chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP).
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the program commemorating the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert. He recalled meeting with youth in Ahlat the previous day and addressing the nation following a cabinet meeting at the Ahlat Presidential Complex, and said: "Today we are once again in Malazgirt, on the 954th anniversary of that exceptional victory. I extend my individual thanks to our esteemed brothers and sisters who have filled this field with emotion and shared our excitement. May the 954th year of the Battle of Manzikert, where we delivered the strongest message to the world—'We are here, and we will remain here until the Day of Judgment'—be blessed. May the honored souls of the great commander Sultan Alp Arslan, the brave soldiers, the veterans, the raiding units, and every single warrior of that heroic army find joy. On that sacred day when the victory was announced, sermons were delivered from pulpits in mosques across every corner of the Islamic world: 'O Allah, raise the banner of Islam and aid Alp Arslan. Bring his intentions and determination to successful fruition. As he responded to Your call without complacency, obeyed Your command, and faced his enemies directly, turning night into day, grant him victory and assist him in his prayers. Manifest his destiny and fate in his favor.' On the morning of August 26, Sultan Alp Arslan emerged before his army dressed in a white garment intended as his shroud, and addressed his warriors with these powerful words: 'O my soldiers and commanders, how much longer shall we wait, outnumbered by our enemies? At this very hour, while Muslims on pulpits pray for us, I wish to charge against the enemy. If we prevail, we shall achieve our desired outcome. If not, we shall ascend to paradise as martyrs.' Indeed, we once again honor with the utmost reverence Sultan Alp Arslan and his army, who tied their horses’ tails and fearlessly charged into battle."
Expressing his prayers for mercy from Allah for the martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives for the homeland, flag, nation, and ummah since the earliest raids before Ahlat and Malazgirt and through the first days of conquest, Erdoğan stated: "The powerful will that shattered the enemy on the Rahva Plain in Malazgirt and opened wide the gateway to Anatolia is here today. I can almost see the green curtain on the pulpit before which the veterans of Malazgirt swore their oath to Allah, billowing in the wind that blows from the battlefields. It is this powerful spirit, as our late master Nurettin Topçu so beautifully described, that is present today on the field of Malazgirt, praise be to God. The sacred values for which the heroes who wrote epic tales side by side in Malazgirt sacrificed their lives are here today. The founding will that blended the Turk, the Kurd, the Arab, the Sunni and the Alevi of Anatolia with love and brotherhood is here today. The unwavering faith that for centuries brought order to the earth and defended the exaltation of the divine word is here today, praise be to God. I wish to emphasize particularly that it is this faith that united Sultan Alp Arslan’s victory with Salah al-Din and his army, and transmitted the legacy of Sultan Fatih to Yavuz Sultan Selim."
Reciting the lines, "This jewel is faith—how divine its greatness! A heart without faith is but a burden within the chest," Erdoğan said: "It is this love that sees Mevlana in Yunus Emre, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli in Idris-i Bitlisi, and Ahmed-i Hani. It is this wise perspective that does not distinguish Hazreti Ömer from Hazreti Ali, or Salman-ı Farisi from Suheyb-i Rumi, and which is preserved upon these lands."
Stating that as a nation, they march toward the future with the courage and self-confidence drawn from the heroic epic written on the plains of Malazgirt 954 years ago, he said: "We are exerting all our strength to preserve these lands, sanctified by the blessed blood of our ancestors as our eternal homeland. Despite every obstacle, every restriction, every sabotage, we are striving with all our might to build a new great and powerful Türkiye. I wish to sincerely state here that we are living in a Türkiye that bows to no power when its survival is at stake."
Emphasizing that Türkiye has become a beacon of hope for the oppressed and the wronged, Erdoğan continued: "Today we have a Türkiye and a government that stand with full determination and all available means for the Palestinian cause, never abandoning our Gazan brothers in the face of Israel’s vile oppression. We defend Gaza’s rights and justice most forcefully through diplomatic letters, telephone conversations, international meetings, and aid exceeding 102,000 tons. Whatever others may say, we fulfill the conduct befitting our nation and ourselves—without yielding, without bending, and without fear of anyone."
Asserting that the nation is in a process where all efforts will bear fruit, Erdoğan concluded his speech with: "Praise be to God, we have made significant progress in our 'Türkiye Without Terrorism' initiative, launched to completely dismantle the walls of discord woven among our people. Despite the attempts of circles nourished by blood and conflict to sabotage this process, all our institutions continue their work with the precision of a jeweler, aiming for 'centuries of unity to eternal brotherhood.' Our nation closely follows these efforts with both vigilance and great hope. Our people note who sincerely supports this process and who seeks to poison it with irrelevant agendas. It is a fact that as Türkiye progresses toward fully resolving the terrorism issue, attacks, sabotage, and traps will increase. Sometimes they will do so through lies and disinformation, sometimes by provoking societal sensitivities, sometimes by spreading fear among our people, sometimes by using agents within and outside the country, and sometimes by disguising their actions as righteous. But no matter what they do, this time they will not succeed. With the permission of Allah and the support of our nation, this atmosphere of hope will not be halted by anyone this time. Those who for years profited from division, fragmentation, and enmity among brothers, God willing, will not prevail this time."
At the conclusion of his speech, he said: "Let no one forget: Turks, Arabs, and Kurds will live side by side on this land until the Day of Judgment. Even after those nourished by Muslim blood have faded from the stage of history, we will remain here. Do not forget: we will be in Malazgirt. As descendants of Sultan Alp Arslan and Salah al-Din, we will together, with heartfelt unity, transform the Century of Türkiye, the great and powerful Türkiye, first into a 'Türkiye Without Terrorism' and then into a region without terrorism. We will sing songs of brotherhood, not songs of division. We will not mourn our losses with laments; instead, we will joyfully chant together the victory marches of our shared triumphs." He concluded by expressing his hope that the anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert would bring blessings to the nation and the Islamic world, and thanked the Archers Foundation for their efforts in organizing the program: "I wish that the 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert may once again serve as a source of blessings for our country, our nation, and the Islamic world. On my own behalf and on behalf of our nation, I extend my deepest gratitude to all the leaders of our Archers Foundation."
In his address at the program, Hüseyin Topbaş, President of the Archers Foundation, stated that August 26, 1071, marked the day when the foundations of Anatolia as a homeland, brotherhood, and civilization were laid.
Topbaş emphasized that the victory won by Sultan Alp Arslan and his glorious army 954 years ago was the first symbol of the enduring unity and brotherhood that has continued for centuries. He stated: "This spirit was revived again in the determination and resolve of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who conquered Istanbul, and in his vision to build a civilization. Today, as the Archers Foundation, we strive to keep this same spirit alive. We consider it our duty to connect our youth with archery and transmit the spirit of these lands to them. The championship victories achieved by our athletes in the Olympics are the finest proof that this heritage has instilled confidence and character in them, both on the sports field and in every aspect of life. We continue our work with determination and resolve, without fatigue, to train new athletes, to remind future generations of our history, and to strengthen our national consciousness for the continuation of this brotherhood and peace."
Topbaş added: "Of course, we could not accomplish all this alone. I extend my deepest gratitude to our esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose leadership has guided our nation’s sacred journey, shown us the horizon of the Kızılelma, and directed our civilizational cause, making it possible for this historically and spiritually significant program to be held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye."
At the conclusion of his speech, Topbaş thanked all those who contributed to organizing the program and said: "First and foremost, I honor with reverence, gratitude, and respect our honored ancestors, beginning with Sultan Alp Arslan, who marched to martyrdom in Malazgirt and on many other battlefields. May our Lord grant us the courage of Sultan Alp Arslan, the vision of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and the patience and sacrifice of our ancestors in a manner worthy of them."
The 954th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert was commemorated from 22 to 26 August 2025 in the districts of Ahlat in Bitlis and Malazgirt in Muş. The celebrations included horseback archery, javelin throwing, wrestling, aviation demonstrations, folk dances and mehter concerts. Thematic tents set up in Ahlat and Malazgirt showcased regional products, and game courses and workshops were organized for children. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the programs in Ahlat and Malazgirt.
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August 25, 2025
Preparations and Organization
August 25, 2025
Speeches at the Opening Ceremony
August 25, 2025
Content of the Events
August 25, 2025
Participants and Visitor Profile
August 25, 2025
President Erdoğan’s Visit to Ahlat
August 26, 2025
Commemoration Program for the 954th Anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert (August 26, 2025)