Abstract:

The Battle of Malazgirt, which opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks, serves as a cornerstone in the historical narrative celebrating Turkish victories throughout history and underscoring the continuity between ancient Turkish states and the modern Republic of Turkey. Moreover, it is commonly recognized as a source of pride embraced by diverse segments of society and considered a foundational myth of the national identity. In this regard, it also captures the attention of popular historiography and scholarly research endeavors. By concentrating on the junction of academic historiography and the national press, in this research the argument that the Malazgirt victory was overlooked in the Republic's social design until the 1950s is examined. Furthermore, the study sheds light on several aspects of the battle that are rarely reflected in academic research or are entirely unheard of. The scope of this study encompasses Cumhuriyet newspaper's issues from January 1, 1930, when it introduced linotype printing to the Turkish press, up until December 31, 1950. Using keywords determined in accordance with qualitative research methods and thirdparty software, document examination was carried out on copies obtained from Cumhuriyet's electronic archive, and the data collected were subjected to content analysis. Through this approach, the portrayal of war in the Turkish press, as exemplified by Cumhuriyet, has been closely examined in light of the evolving understanding of historiography in Turkey over the years. Moreover, the study has identified that the field studies regarding the Battle of Malazgirt in this research have roots that extend further into the past than previously known. Starting from the 1930s in Turkey, with the rise of Seljuk historiography, it has been observed that academic studies and popular publications have been in close harmony.