In 1071, the Seljuk Turks achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Manzikert against the Byzantine Empire, which opened Anatolia to Turkish settlement. This defeat marked a turning point in Byzantine power and facilitated the spread of Islam in the region. The Seljuk victory played a crucial role in shaping the political and cultural landscape of medieval Anatolia.

The Seljuk victory at Manzikert in 1071 initiated the Turkification of Anatolia, leading to the emergence of Turkish literary traditions. This blending of Central Asian oral epics with Persianate courtly styles produced poets like Yunus Emre, whose works shaped the Ottoman literary landscape.