Battle of Ankara

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{{Infobox Military Conflict |image= |caption= |conflict=Battle of Ankara |partof=the Ottoman-Timurid wars |date=July 20, 1402 |place=Çubuk Ovasi field, near Ankara |result=Decisive Timurid victory |combatant1=Timurid Empire |combatant2=Ottoman Empire |commander1=Timur |commander2=Beyazid I |strength1=5000 |strength2= |casualties1=Unknown |casualties2=Unknown }}

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

Once the Turko-Mongol leader Timur had conquered Georgia and Armenia in 1390, the Ottoman Empire became his neighbor, and the two powers soon came into direct confrontation. When Beyazid demanded tribute from one of a number of Turkish emirates who had pledged their loyalty to Timur and threatened to invade the emirate, 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 a commander, since most of the Turks chose Timur's side. Also years of insulting correspondence had passed between Timur and Beyazid.

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's men. During the battle the main water supply of both armies, Cubuk Creek was diverted to an of-stream reservoir near the Town of Cubuk by Timur which left the Ottoman Army downstream without water. The final battle took place at Catal Tepe at Cubuk dominating the Plain. Thirsty and tired the Ottoman army was annihilated and Sultan Beyazid was captured during his flight.

European nations had at first encouraged Timur in his invasion; the Genoese were said to be flying the Mongol standard from the walls of Galata in support of Timur. However, for some months following his destruction of the power of the Ottomans in Asia, fear of where Timur would attack next gripped the European peoples.

The Battle of Ankara had a temporary effect on the political ground of the Balkans where the Ottomans were concerned. The siege of Constantinople was lifted and the Timurids descended on Brusa and laid waste to almost all of Anatolia. However the Turks and Mongols loyal to Timur, being nomads travelled eastwards for new conquests and if they remained they would have dealt a killing blow to the house of Othman.

It had split the Ottomans since after Bayezid was captured his sons were still alive. Most of the Ottoman Turks had fled into Europe. The result was a civil war, and this temporary weakening of the Ottomans helped delay the end of the Byzantine Empire.

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