invasion asia minor invasion asia minor largest operation launched byzantine_empire expedition commanded person reigned wished byzantine successes frontier region previous year impress byzantine emperor huge army according arab sources numbering men raided unopposed capturing towns fortresses notably forcing seek peace exchange tribute following departure violated terms treaty frontier forts forced abandon rebellion death years later prohibited similar scale civil war began byzantine contributed cessation large scale arab byzantine conflict decades background following deposition byzantine empress october accession place violent phase long history arab byzantine wars began following series destructive annual raids secured truce exchange annual payment tribute repeating terms agreed year truce large scale campaign hand source records learned accession byzantine warned arab governor throw away silk armour addition determined imperial treasury measures tribute launching raid son spring respond faced large scale revolt byzantine army asia minor commander chief assembled army marched meet second larger invasion raided frontier region armies confronted months central asia minor come battle exchanged letters emperor arranged withdrawal truce remainder year exchange payment tribute year force crossed mountains set confront arabs surprised heavily defeated battle barely escaped life preoccupied trouble accepted tribute peace exchange prisoners arranged took place winter border river muslims exchanged byzantines taken captive previous years departed leaving watch byzantine frontier opportunity spring rebuild destroyed walls towns summer launched byzantine raid decades arab frontier districts byzantine army raided territory surrounding fortresses took prisoners went garrison attacked byzantine force recovered prisoners byzantines marched orders strengthen muslim hold city fell entire garrison taken captive time byzantine force raided upper unsuccessfully besieged fortress byzantine instigated rebellion local arab garrison began cyprus sudden resumption byzantine offensive activity greatly alarmed addition received reports planning similar attacks year time aim frontier territories historian writes byzantines successful partly blocked main arab invasion routes byzantine byzantines great benefit hand certainly aware huge superiority men resources likely intended campaign simply strength test enemy resolve campaign having settled matters returned west november prepared huge expedition drawing men syria palestine persia egypt according army numbered regular troops additional volunteers numbers fantastic claims byzantine chronicler men easily largest recorded entire era far estimated strength entire byzantine army certainly exaggerated indicative size force time naval force admiral prepared raid cyprus huge invasion army departed residence northern syria june head allegedly wearing cap inscription warrior faith arabic crossed ordered rebuilt entered marched time abandoned began establish base operations ordering ibn far town erect mosque lieutenant took cousin ibn ibn half army men according sent generals ibn captured called fortress recently rebuilt town ibn captured fort willow captured placed siege raiders reached far capture half forces went west captured month long siege august september city plundered razed inhabitants enslaved deported time cyprus ravaged island took including archbishop captive syria sold slaves outnumbered threatened rear resist onslaught campaigned head army seemingly won minor engagements isolated detachments stayed clear main forces end possibility arabs byzantine soil sent ambassadors michael bishop peter abbot monastery gregory steward metropolis agreed terms included annual tribute gold according according addition emperor son heir pay personal poll tax gold coins respectively version acknowledging subjects addition promised rebuild dismantled forts recalled forces evacuated byzantine territory aftermath agreement peace terms followed surprisingly friendly exchange rulers related asked send girl candidate son according ordered slave girl sought brought adorned installed seat tent lodging slave girl tent contents vessels fittings handed envoy sent requested sent dates dishes healing drugs returned favour horse laden silver coins fine hunting dogs horses soon arabs withdrawn emperor restored frontier forts ceased payment tribute records unexpectedly returned seized retaliation arabs launch series raids year spring raid ibn heavily defeated falling field larger summer raid ibn met person battle sides retreated byzantines raided region return late summer launched major naval raid rhodes reached far rebellion local return lost ships storm slavic revolt failing capture failure year efforts compounded revolt forced depart east concluded new truce prisoner exchange held left gains restored frontier fortifications cessation tribute intact impact massive expedition achieved remarkably little material terms despite sack given prominent treatment arab sources permanent result achieved quick violate terms truce taken advice offered proceeded west sack major cities inflicted long lasting damage byzantium content force prevent repeating offensive regard campaign certainly success byzantine ruler abandoned plans eastern border focused energy fiscal reforms recovery balkans wars efforts end disastrous following death march civil war sons able exploit byzantine campaign raids mark major centrally organized expeditions byzantium years accession confrontations large scale cross border operations resume longest lasting impact campaign found literature arabs legends related associated ottoman turks placed great importance battles byzantines influenced events campaign besieging constantinople twice time withdrew securing land cover building fortress imitation tale second hanged commemorate successful campaign built victory monument kilometres west principal residence known local tradition apparently comprises square structure sides metres long surrounded circular wall metres diameter pierced gates cardinal directions main structure built stone taken churches demolished orders vaulted halls ground floor ramps leading upper storey left incomplete departure subsequent death
Abbasid invasion of Asia Minor (806)