battle battle clash forces byzantine_empire syria fought early near main army besieging byzantines captured years previously byzantines led emperor household lured strong detachment attack attacked sides destroying force defeat coupled invasion southern syria forced lift siege secured byzantine control northern syria background october fell byzantine commander fall great metropolis northern syria soon followed treaty byzantines tributary vassal handed byzantine_empire entirety frontier zones coastal strip syria mediterranean_sea tripoli byzantine control area initially theoretical murder byzantine emperor december threatened byzantine gains region south troops command conquered egypt rulers seized spirit aiming rule byzantine advance threat major item propaganda aimed newly conquered region promises restore government news fall helped persuade allow send far ibn invade palestine far defeated remnants took occupying damascus november siege battle soon damascus submitted far ibn entrusted named victories carry promised byzantines 15th century compilation historian ibn mentions certain commander assembled large army strengthened palestine southern syria moved december byzantine writer claims army numbered clearly exaggerated men records number men laid siege city inhabitants offered stiff resistance send army army description 14th century historian ibn apparently raised southern syria reinforcement following account 15th century egyptian additional troops puts men possible completely halt city resupply headed meantime murderer successor unable intervene person east menacing invasion balkans result sent small force trusted household nicholas according contemporary leo experienced battle relieve siege meantime siege continued months winter spring result point detachment according men called ibn moved north byzantine relief army camped informed approach byzantine commander vacated camp placed troops ambush finding enemy deserted troops began moment nicholas launched surprise attack sides force muslim army perished managed escape defeat major blow morale coupled news advance radical group originating ordered raise siege early july army returned damascus contingents dispersed home districts aftermath fist clash eastern mediterranean foremost powers ended byzantine victory hand strengthened byzantine position northern syria weakened lives lost morale reputation historian writes possessed troops prestige lost resisted armies local districts aided dispersed event far unable resist allies making fatal choice confronting desert defeated killed battle august defeat led near total collapse control southern syria palestine invasion egypt victorious eventually managed drive syria restore control province byzantines remained great campaigns led person emperor advanced deep muslim lands threatened jerusalem death january lifted byzantine danger byzantines try advance far northern syrian possessions
Battle of Alexandretta