battle greek greek fought byzantine_empire invading arab army modern northern turkey byzantine army led uncle emperor arab sources mention presence emperor michael arabs led able overcome initial byzantine resistance invasion reach shores black_sea byzantines mobilized forces arab army encircled near river subsequent battle ended complete byzantine victory death field followed successful byzantine border byzantine victories proved decisive main threats byzantine eliminated era byzantine east great conquests 10th century begun byzantine success constant arab pressure eastern frontier allowed byzantine government concentrate affairs europe particular neighboring bulgaria pressured accepting byzantine form christianity beginning nation absorption byzantine cultural sphere background arab byzantine border wars following rapid muslim conquests 7th century byzantine_empire found confined southern coasts balkans parts italy byzantium remained major enemy arab raids asia minor continued 8th 9th centuries time expeditions launched bases arab frontier zone annual basis acquired quasi character muslim holy war period byzantines generally defensive suffered catastrophic defeats home city reigning byzantine dynasty power rise semi independent byzantine eastern frontier byzantines increasingly able assert power persistent threats empire ali armenian modern leader particular major threat byzantium location western anti range allowed direct access plateau indication threat posed states came combined actions turned year byzantines raided deep returned followed shortly raid forces ali naval attack syria sacked major byzantine naval base arab invasion summer struck joining forces general far ibn probably governor successful raid arabs crossed gates byzantine territory went reached place near army returned home obtained far leave press asia minor forces represented bulk strength size unknown contemporary muslim historian claims men disposal byzantine historians numbers arab army men considers number closer reality estimates size combined arab force men likely contingent present byzantine emperor assembled army counter arab raid met battle area called bishop meadow arab sources highland near north battle bloody casualties sides according persian historian thousand army survived arabs managed escape byzantines continue raid north theme eventually reaching black_sea port city byzantine historians report enraged sea blocking advance ordered likely inspired similar account persian wars battle soon michael learned fall ordered huge force assembled gives size men uncle domestic schools records emperor assumed command forces supported byzantine sources given bias michael historians writing dynasty deliberate omission forces assembled came byzantine_empire separate armies formed arabs northern byzantine force composed forces black_sea themes southern force probably fought kept arab army composed themes frontier districts western force comprising men themes imperial capital coordination forces easy byzantine armies marching directions able converge day september surround smaller army location called near exact location river battle site identified scholars agree lay near river kilometres southeast approach byzantine armies open escape route left men dominated strategically located hill night arabs byzantines occupy byzantines emerged victorious ensuing fight day september decided throw entire force west located attempting achieve breakthrough byzantines stood firm giving byzantine wings time close attack arab army exposed rear flanks rout complete larger arab army fell field casualties possibly included leader participation battle uncertain recorded died year son head small force managed escape battlefield fleeing south border area pursued defeated captured men aftermath byzantines moved quickly advantage victory byzantine army invaded arab held armenia october november defeated killed single campaigning season byzantines eliminated dangerous opponents eastern border retrospect successes proved decisive battle permanently destroyed power byzantine victory altered strategic balance region heralded beginning byzantium century long offensive east importance victories unnoticed time byzantines hailed revenge sack years earlier victorious generals granted entry constantinople special celebrations services held awarded high court title raised theme muslim reports news deaths ali strong defenders islam men great courage enormous praise frontier districts served provoked great grief baghdad cities culminating riots looting comments private donations volunteers holy war began flock border central authorities prepared send military force byzantines account days ongoing internal turmoil removal eastern threat rise byzantines confidence opened opportunities west bulgarian ruler negotiating pope possible conversion pagan people christianity expansion rome influence constantinople tolerated byzantine government victorious eastern armies transferred europe invaded bulgaria demonstration military convinced accept byzantine missionaries instead baptized taking michael honor byzantine emperor beginning initiating nation absorption byzantine influenced eastern orthodox world influence heroic poetry according french byzantine success arabs culminated inspired creation oldest surviving heroic poems song claimed eponymous protagonist young byzantine warrior actually inspired emperor battle byzantine heroic cycle strongly recalls events eponymous hero surrounds arab army near strong influences found episodes arab later turkish epic cycles episode thousand nights
Battle of Lalakaon