battle fought july turkey byzantine_empire forces launched huge expedition separate armies retaliation byzantine emperor successes previous year aimed sack byzantium largest cities army confronted smaller muslim army iranian vassal prince numerically superior byzantine army initially successful resolved lead attack person absence usual post caused panic byzantine troops feared killed coupled fierce counterattack turkish horse byzantine army broke fled guard besieged hill making good escape defeat opened way brutal sack weeks later blows byzantium suffered centuries long arab byzantine wars background young reigned ascended byzantine throne arab byzantine wars continued centuries ambitious man convinced sought bolster regime gain support religious policies military success byzantium major antagonist launched series campaigns moderately successful sufficient imperial propaganda portray traditional roman manner victorious emperor personally led major campaign region upper cities sources claim birthplace forcing city pay tribute deliver hostages return spared response decided launch major expedition byzantium aiming capture major byzantine cities central probably largest city time birthplace reigning dynasty consequently particular symbolic importance according chronicles soldiers painted word shields banners vast army gathered men according divided main forces northern force iranian vassal prince invade theme region joining forces city southern main force pass gates head city taken arab armies join march force included according entire army vassal armenian princes numbered estimated men turkish horse byzantine soon aware intentions set constantinople early june army included men possibly european themes elite regiments contingent persian leader converted christianity baptized people fled religious persecution deserted empire previous years formed called persian setting camp emperor divided forces strong corps sent reinforce garrison set remainder circa according according battle mid june crossed anti mountains fort greek modern strategically important location served concentration point byzantines days later june vanguard main army invaded byzantine territory followed days main body informed movements mid july force smaller threatened cut supply lines consequently emperor left small covering force army marched east confront july imperial army came view arab force hill plain south fort named greek principal commanders domestic schools advised surprise night attack emperor sided opinion officers resolved wait launch attack day byzantine army attacked dawn initially good progress drove wing opposite army inflicting casualties arabs near noon resolved reinforce wing detached byzantines contingent abandoning post passing army lines point launched turkish horse ferocious counter attack byzantine advance allowed arab forces byzantine troops noticed emperor absence thinking killed began soon turned retreat men fled far constantinople bringing emperor killed units apparently able retreat good order assemble place called found isolated hill arabs proceeded surround hill byzantines saved sudden rain strings turkish bows rendering useless sent brought batter byzantine position time officers afraid troops persuaded withdraw breaking arab lines suffering wounds process sources variously credit severely wounded possibly died soon saving emperor small escort managed reach safety gradually assembled remnants army aftermath aftermath defeat rumours circulating constantinople death position abandoned campaign withdrew soon departed imperial capital left abandoned plundered arab army july united army marched unopposed fell siege weeks entire population half survived brutal sack sold slaves fall city heaviest blows byzantium suffered entire 9th century material symbolic terms fortunately empire news rebellion forced withdraw soon time deal revolt rumours death reached capital related emperor marriage apparently forward new emperor returning city recalled general fearful punished fled loyal proclaimed emperor event persuaded surrender peacefully year persian corps disbanded men dispersed themes tragic byzantines time defeat subsequent sack militarily long term importance empire failed follow success play crucial role relied military success maintain validity shortly sudden death icons restored empire notable illustrating difficulties faced byzantine military time horse remarkable change army 6th 7th centuries skills formed core byzantine tactical doctrine remarkable confrontation middle byzantine army descendants emerge byzantium major antagonists century
Battle of Anzen