battle battle fought byzantine_empire christian sect persecuted byzantine state established separate byzantium eastern border collaborated muslim empire battle decisive byzantine victory resulting rout army death leader event destroyed power state removed major threat byzantium fall annexation shortly background christian sect precise origins beliefs somewhat obscure byzantine sources portray armenian sources maintain sect fiercely adhered distinct rejected authority practices official following leaders consequently persecuted byzantine state early despite emperors official support definitive end byzantine persecution intensified attempt unique byzantine history entire sect orders sent kill according remnants fled strongholds east central found refuge empire muslim enemies arab arab byzantine frontier zone mountain ranges support leader founded separate decades campaigned alongside arabs byzantium arabs suffered critical blow defeat death battle death year new leader resumed raids deep raiding far new byzantine emperor sent embassy negotiations talks failed led campaign state spring defeated narrowly managed escape battle encouraged success staged deep raid reaching southern reacted sending relative domestic schools christopher managed avoid clash campaigning season drew close began retiring territory modern theme byzantine army making camp nearby modern west marched northeast pass deep stream modern pass west turkey location strategic importance indicated fact served fortified assembly point byzantine expeditions east christopher sent themes ahead thousand men contact army shadow far pass report intentions intended double westwards resume raiding byzantine territory headed case rejoin domestic forces generals men reached pass night fallen apparently unaware followed camp valley pass byzantines took position wooded hill called overlooked concealed enemy point sources record dispute broke men thematic corps generals decided advantage troops high morale attack despite orders picked detachment men divisions launched surprise attack dawn rest army remained loud drums suggest imminent arrival entire byzantine field army christopher ruse worked perfectly taken surprise panicked dispersed offering resistance rout completed fell main byzantine army fleeing remnants pursued victorious byzantines distance managed escape small detachment brought bay probably modern ensuing engagement wounded byzantine soldier captive fell horse captured beheaded advancing byzantines head sent emperor constantinople aftermath defeat signalled end military power threat byzantium followed success series campaigns east strongholds arab taken razed ground remaining balkans large contingent shipped fight empire elder questions chronology chronology sequence events battle fall state unclear byzantine sources contradictory number scholars place battle cases capture byzantines proposed victorious battle byzantines followed sack final defeat recent historians place battle sack city disagree dates events like place events french followed scholars like placed battle final years later
Battle of Bathys Ryax