greek circa important generals byzantine_empire success battles muslim states east definitively reversed course centuries long byzantine arab wars began byzantium 10th century age conquest belonged family armenian descent produced notable byzantine generals commander imperial bodyguard regiment chief supporters emperor reigned facilitated rise throne appointed commander chief byzantine armies eastern frontier facing semi autonomous muslim border kept post years overseeing decisive byzantine military successes altered strategic balance region 9th century byzantium gradually recovered strength internal stability increasingly fractured leadership byzantine armies advanced deep muslim territory time years expanding imperial border conquered extending byzantine control upper western armenia remaining armenian princes byzantine played role defeat major raid recovered important holy believed depict face jesus christ dismissed result sons restored favour emperor constantine vii serving imperial ambassador subsequent fate unknown biography early life career john armenian family form original surname armenian risen prominence byzantine service 9th century established great families land holding military aristocracy called john namesake grandfather commander elite regiment emperor reigned john brother senior general john son great nephew little known john early life father wealthy official imperial palace john born region theme educated relatives bishop late regency infant son constantine vii appointed commander palace guard regiment probably fellow armenian admiral drive throne capacity arrested high officials opposed rise power opening road appointment regent place gradually assumed powers crowned senior emperor december reward support promoted post domestic schools effect commander chief imperial armies according chronicle held post continuous term years seven months time following disastrous byzantines occupied balkans bulgaria task domestic east suppression revolt governor strategically important area empire northeastern frontier quickly achieved brother replaced governor commander northernmost sector eastern frontier proved competent soldier gave valuable assistance brother campaigns submission campaigns armenia following muslim conquests 7th century arab byzantine conflict featured constant raids counter raids relatively static border roughly defined line anti mountains superior muslim armies placed byzantines defensive victory byzantines gradually regain lost ground muslims launching deeper raids syria state furthermore according historian arabs pinned anti encouraging switch allegiance empire service entered increasing numbers revival byzantine power facilitated progressive decline particularly central government faced revolts periphery weakening central control allowed emergence semi autonomous local addition death bulgarian peace treaty allowed empire shift attention resources east felt strong demand payment tribute muslim cities western refused led army border aided brother armenian contingent greek sources targeted modern center long byzantium byzantine army successfully stormed lower city citadel held concluded treaty accepted tributary status launched large raid arab controlled armenia taking modern important stronghold byzantines advanced far armenian capital arab counter offensive forced days defended general successfully byzantine siege mounting losses forced byzantines abandon time conducted successful raids southern local leader supported byzantines byzantines turned region lake van southern armenia troops plundered region took towns said replaced mosque cross local arabs appealed aid vain prompting exodus muslims region kilometres nearest imperial territory far cry defensive minded strategy byzantium followed previous centuries highlighted new capabilities imperial army famine parallel campaigns southern italy weakened forces army defeated driven governor attack heavily defeated prominent officers sons captured sent baghdad later year john brother besieged modern capital campaign complicated allies rulers extension direct byzantine control adjacent borders provided supplies besieged city city invested demanded byzantines hand captured towns fort surrendered promptly returned arabs needed aware conduct carefully observed armenian princes react seven months siege fell spring transformed tributary vassal according territory north river given king maintenance byzantine control proved difficult population remained revolted drove byzantines finally subdue city fully incorporated empire muslim population expelled replaced greek armenian settlers final capture following death renounced byzantine allegiance attempts city storm failed byzantines established ring fortresses hills plain ravaged area early inhabitants forced come terms agreed tributary status undertook provide military contingent campaign alongside byzantines muslim states idle march byzantines hit successive raids organized commander august large raid led penetrated far returned prisoners worth gold time byzantines engaged southern armenia aiding ruler rallied local armenian princes allied byzantines raided razed ground marching capturing unable advantage capture territory immediately raided domains retaliation point called rulers help response prince ibn attacked byzantines drove abandoned november byzantine garrison withdrew unable remain area leave sufficient garrison left byzantines returned resumed blockade earth tactics sources record major byzantine external campaigns empire preoccupied revolts renewed attack sent forces assist city resulting skirmishes byzantines prevailed took prisoners arab army returned home relieving city early head men crossed frontier marched muslim states offered help preoccupied turmoil following deposition took besieged city inhabitants abandoned news approach hunger eventually compelled rest surrender wary city previous rebellions allowed inhabitants remain christians agreed convert christianity ordered remainder expelled fully incorporated empire fertile land transformed imperial estate unusual implemented prevent powerful landed aristocracy taking control province served increase direct imperial presence control crucial new rise fall profoundly shocked muslim world time major muslim city fallen incorporated byzantine_empire followed success parts district city ground east remained relatively calm historians suggest byzantines likely preoccupied arab deprived potential support reluctant provoke decline obvious inability defend border provinces new local dynasty emerged principal antagonists byzantium northern syria led called defender state younger brother ali best known epithet sword state arab tribe defeated rising defected entirety byzantines converted christianity placed horsemen disposal empire settled western bank assigned guard new themes created byzantine encounter took place tried relieve revolt home forced turn invasion captured fort defeated advance guard seizing great booty forcing withdraw year peace agreement signed constantinople negotiations facilitated rising power caused anxiety sides despite official peace hoc warfare continued byzantines local muslim rulers aided byzantines attempted siege abandoned news approach relief army time byzantines captured additional strategically important locations mountains southwest armenia posing direct threat muslim lake van reverse situation initiated remarkable campaign starting crossed pass armenia seized fortresses accepted submission local lords muslim christian ravaged byzantine holdings raided far besieged arrived relief army forced withdraw able follow effort preoccupied internal developments fighting rivals southern iraq syria raid distraction proved fortunate byzantium early summer prepared resume campaigning east attention diverted unexpected event appearance fleet raided area constantinople byzantine army navy absent capital appearance fleet caused panic populace constantinople navy army recalled hastily assembled squadron old ships armed placed defeated fleet june forcing abandon course city surviving landed shores ravaged countryside area troops gather contained raiders awaited arrival army finally army appeared fell dispersed countryside killing survivors retreated ships tried cross cover night crossing entire byzantine navy attacked annihilated campaigns recovery following distraction january launched new campaign east lasted years assault fell territory thoroughly plundered fall town near arab sources record capture prisoners byzantines despite minor counter raid summer autumn launched major invasion head exceptionally large army men according arab sources crossed allied northern places byzantine army days years earlier stormed ravaged real aim campaigns cloth believed christ face leaving imprint features subsequently given king byzantines especially end period restoration image profound religious significance result capture provide regime enormous boost popularity legitimacy year onward devastated countryside finally agreed peace swearing raise arms byzantium hand exchange return prisoners conveyed constantinople arrived august feast entry staged deposited church chapel great palace concluded campaign modern modern dismissal rehabilitation despite triumph downfall friend protector emperor imminent eldest surviving sons emperors stephen constantine jealous past tried undermine albeit success following success east considered marrying trusted general imperial family daughter emperor grandson future son son law junior emperor constantine vii union effectively cement loyalty army strengthen position legitimate line represented constantine vii imperial claims sons stephen constantine opposed decision prevailed father time old ill dismiss autumn replaced certain immediately defeated december raiding near december deposed stephen constantine banished monastery island weeks later january coup removed young power restored sole imperial authority constantine vii appears soon returned imperial favour constantine provided money repair palace damaged earthquake early recorded having sent negotiate prisoner exchange arabs known fall signalled end era terms personalities policy continued succeeded domestic schools elder followed reigned emperor finally great nephew reigned emperor expanded byzantine frontier east recovering northern syria converting byzantine assessment ranks greatest military leaders byzantium produced fact recognized byzantines later byzantine hailed general restored imperial frontier contemporary book history written michael lost save short summary acclaimed second ground work successes certainly laid broke power destroyed wise founded vital theme extended byzantine influence armenia founded theme campaigns changed balance power northern middle_east securing frontier provinces arab raids turning byzantium power words historian lesser general cleared empire successfully defended borders infused new spirit imperial armies led deep country actual area conquests large reverse age old roles byzantium arabs byzantium line great worthy high praise
John Kourkouas