Catalan Campaign in Asia Minor

Catalan Campaign in Asia Minor
Part of the Byzantine-Ottoman wars
Date 1303 to c. 1313
Location Asia Minor
Result Decisive Byzantine victory
Belligerents
 Byzantine Empire Ottoman emirate
Strength
6,500 Catalans 40,000+ Ottomans[1]
Casualties and losses
Few; many fought their way to Thessaly and Athens ~20,000 (see above reference)

In 1303, the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus hired 6,500 Catalan mercenaries under Roger de Flor to campaign against the Turks in the spring and summer of the same year. Their costly service came with success, driving back the Turks in parts of Asia Minor. At Philadelphia, 20,000 Turkish soldiers (possibly those of Aydinids) 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 two-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, the Catalans' campaign was a short-term Byzantine victory, but benefited the Turks in the long term.

Notes

  1. ^ Norwich reports that 18,000 Turks lay dead only at Philadelphia