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| Catalan Campaign in Asia Minor |
| Part of the Byzantine-Ottoman wars |
| Date |
1303 to c. 1313 |
| Location |
Asia Minor |
| Result |
Tactical Byzantine victory |
|
| Belligerents |
 Byzantine Empire |
Ottoman Turks |
| Strength |
| 6,500 Catalans |
20,000+ Ottomans[1] |
| Casualties and losses |
| Few; many fought their way to Thessaly and Athens |
At least 18,000 (see above reference) |
In 1303, the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II hired 6,500 Catalan mercenaries under Roger de Flor to campaign against the Turks in the Spring and Summer of 1303. Their costly service came with success, driving back the Turks in parts of Asia Minor. At Philadelphia, 18,000 Turkish soldiers (possibly those of Aydin) were left dead, the work of the Catalans. The campaign was Byzantium's few decisive victories in a poorly managed war.
However, the Byzantines got more than what they bargained for; the mercenaries were difficult to restrain and consequently much of the reconquered territory was laid to waste. When Roger de Flor was assassinated, the mercenaries began a 2 year pillage in revenge and crossed over to Thrace and Macedonia where further raiding occurred. Eventually the Catalan Mercenaries claimed the Duchy of Athens for themselves in 1313, leaving behind a devastated Byzantium. After this, the Turks found much support amongst those who suffered and reoccupied land that had been lost.
Thus, it was a short term Byzantine victory, but a long term Turkish victory.
- ^ Norwich reports that 18,000 Turks lay dead only at Philadelphia
