Thus Odoksia, the empress of Byzantium married to Diogenes Romanos, who was known for his bravery. Therefore, she won both a brave person whom they could reach the responsibility of the throne and a hero chief commander able to direct the armies as required. Byzantines, being informed that Alparslan was preparing for a new expedition towards south, considered this as an absolute opportunity. General Diogenes Romanos, with a great army of 200 thousand soldiers, marched toward Alparslan.
The two armies to change the progress of history faced each other in Malazgirt plain in the north of Van lake. Alparslan was a peace supporter above all. Therefore, he sent one of his closest men, SevükTekin to General Romanos, as a messenger of peace. General Romanos thought that Alparslan wanted peace because he was afraid of himself. He almost made fun of Sevük Tekin in impertinence and he said:
We are going to Isfahan. We stopped here to have a short break to allow horses have some rest. We can talk about the peace issue in Horasan. We do not have much time. I will wait for you in Horasan.
War was inevitable. This impertinent Byzantine general, who said he would take all of Turkish soils as far as Horasan, had to be put in his place. Alparslan wore white clothes that day. He gathered the council of war and said:
We could not win peace, but we will win the war. We will make close combat leaving our arrows and arches... My sword, without it, my claw is enough for the enemy. Here I wore my martyrdom shroud. If I fall as a martyr, bury me where I have fallen and gather around my son, Melik Şah.
Muhammed bin Abdülmelik from Buhara, the Imam of Alparslan said:
You are performing holy war in the name of Islam my Sultan. Start the war on blessed Friday on which all Muslims pray. May Allah make you win the victory, and prayed for him.
Turkish army attacked on the enemy on 26 August 1071 with their swords. The Byzantines were waiting backed by the foot of the hills. Alparslan, with an appropriate decision, did not wait to draw the enemies upon him, but marched upon the enemy, who are much more crowded.
Turkish army had its hardest war in history in Malazgirt plain. The chance of war showed Alparslan in a short period of time. The strong and proud army of Byzantium messed up. Some died, some were taken captives. The giant army was destroyed. The proud and impertinent commander Romanos was among the captives.