President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for national unity and strength, saying Türkiye must remain strong in a strategically important but challenging region, as he addressed ceremonies marking the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert.

Erdoğan delivered his speech Wednesday at the Manzikert Battlefield Historical National Park in Muş, where Türkiye marked the anniversary of Sultan Alparslan’s victory over the Byzantine army in 1071. The battle is widely regarded as a turning point that accelerated the Turkic settlement of Anatolia.

“We have been striving to live with our honor and dignity for a millennium in the world’s most strategic yet challenging region,” Erdoğan said. “In this geography, we have no choice but to stand strong, united and together.”

He stressed that Türkiye must remain powerful not only to protect its own national interests but also because millions of people across the region look to the country.

‘We Will Not Bow to Anyone’

In one of the strongest messages of his speech, Erdoğan said Türkiye could make sacrifices when necessary but would not compromise when the country's future and sovereignty were at stake.

“We may give up anything when necessary, but when it comes to our homeland, the future of our state and our nation, we will not bow to anyone,” he said.

Erdoğan linked the historical significance of Manzikert to Türkiye’s contemporary national objectives, emphasizing that the unity and determination demonstrated in 1071 remain relevant to the country's challenges today.

He also paid tribute to Sultan Alparslan, his army and those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle that opened the way to Anatolia.

From Manzikert to Türkiye’s Historical Legacy

Erdoğan described Manzikert as more than a military victory, arguing that the battle opened paths that would later lead to major developments in the history of the region.

He said Sultan Alparslan's victory opened the way not only to Anatolia but also, in the historical trajectory that followed, toward Jerusalem under Salahuddin Ayyubi, Istanbul under Sultan Mehmed II and the wider Ottoman world.

The president also highlighted the cultural and spiritual legacy associated with figures such as Mevlana, Yunus Emre, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, Idris-i Bitlisi and Ahmed Khani, saying the legacy of Anatolia extended beyond military conquests to intellectual, cultural and spiritual life.

‘A Great and Powerful Türkiye Has Dawned’

The president connected the message of Manzikert to his government's vision for the country's future, saying Türkiye's economic strength and domestic unity would reinforce one another.

In remarks delivered during the anniversary celebrations, Erdoğan said Türkiye was working to strengthen the brotherhood of its 86 million citizens and expressed confidence that the country would become a “great and powerful Türkiye.”

He also said the government's Terror-Free Türkiye initiative would open the door to a new period once it reaches its objective.

According to Erdoğan, the process is intended to strengthen domestic unity while contributing to peace and stability in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

“The blood merchants will lose, the opportunists who profit from terrorism will lose, the genociders who seek to plunge our region into instability will lose,” Erdoğan said, arguing that humanity, brotherhood, peace and stability would ultimately prevail.

‘We Must Be Strong for Our Brothers and Sisters’

Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye's strategic position requires it to maintain national cohesion and resilience.

He said the country must be strong not only to defend its own rights but also because millions of people across the region “have turned their faces toward our country.”

The president's remarks came one day after he attended anniversary events in Ahlat, where he also spoke about the Terror-Free Türkiye process and called for the strengthening of unity among Turks, Kurds and Arabs.

He said Türkiye's goal was to build a future based on prosperity, security and solidarity, arguing that regional stability and Türkiye's own development were closely connected.

‘The Century of Türkiye Has Begun’

Erdoğan concluded his broader Manzikert message by connecting the legacy of 1071 with the establishment and development of the modern Turkish Republic.

In his Victory Week message, he said the march that began with Manzikert continued through subsequent struggles and was ultimately crowned by the establishment of the Republic. He described the sacrifices of previous generations as a guarantee of Türkiye's future and said the same determination now lives on in the country's pursuit of the “Century of Türkiye.”

Marking the 955th anniversary, Erdoğan again commemorated Sultan Alparslan, the soldiers who fought alongside him and all martyrs and veterans, while presenting Manzikert as a continuing symbol of national determination, unity and resilience. (ILKHA)