Battle of Koyun Islands

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This article is about the battle in 1090. For the battle in 1695, see Battle of the Oinousses Islands.
Battle of Koyun Islands
Date19 May 1090
Location
Off Koyun Islands, Aegean Sea
Result Beylik of İzmir victory
Belligerents
Beylik of İzmir Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Chaka Niketa Kastamonita

Battle of Koyun Islands was a medieval naval engagement in the Aegean Sea. The theatre of the battle was around Koyun Islands (Oinousses) which are a group of small islands between the island of Chios and Anatolia. The belligerents were the Beylik of İzmir and the Byzantine Empire.

Beylik of İzmir (or beylik of Chaka) was founded by a Turkish seaman named Chaka Bey in the 11 the century. Although not a member of the Seljuk house, his daughter was married to Kılıç Arslan I of the Seljuks of Anatolia. He founded a maritime beylik (principality) around İzmir and he frequenty campaigned on the Byzantine islands in east Aegean sea.[1]

After capturing the island of Lesbos, he planned to attack the island of Chios. There were 17 war ships and 33 clippers under his command. However upon learning about an approaching Byzantine fleet under the command of Niketa Kastamonita, he decided to fight. The battle on the 19 May 1090 continued until night. Chaka was able to defeat the Byzantine fleet.[2]

After the battle Chaka annexed the islands of Chios and Samos.

References[]

  1. ^ Levent Tonyalı-Gökhan Atmaca-Hatice Akkaş: Türk Deniz Harp Tarihi Atlası ,ISBN 978-975-409-589-0 pg 7
  2. ^ Naval history page (in Turkish)
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