siege siege unsuccessful attempt capture byzantine city capital failure capture byzantine_empire capital constantinople launched series raids byzantine asia minor arab army led sons penetrated deep asia minor sacked byzantine fortresses late july arrived despite constant attacks days city held firm arabs withdrew returned successful attack major boost byzantine emperor recently initiated campaign abolish icons empire leo claimed evidence divine favour policy siege marks high point raids new threats defeats far diverted strength byzantine power gradually recovered background following failure year long assault armies byzantine capital constantinople short period peace followed wounds suppressed rebellion ibn assessed priorities warfare arab byzantine frontier strategic focus shifted away outright conquest muslim raids mountains occurred regularly spring summer accompanied naval raids followed winter expedition devastated large tracts asia minor destroyed fortresses arabs attempt hold captured strongholds west mountains byzantine reaction years passive empire strength vastly superior resources byzantines confront raiding arab armies retreated fortified positions scattered asia minor accession scale ambition muslim raids grew prominent leaders campaigns son led expeditions went far west invasion siege summer large scale invasion led heading vanguard army byzantine chronicler claims vanguard numbered men entire invasion force clearly inflated number records certain second command arab sources regard arab army moved west northwestern vanguard attacked sacked town place called arab sources possibly fort razed ground attack arabs especially contingent said suffered heavy losses arabs turned west chief city capital powerful theme arabs arrived city late july vanguard preceding main army byzantines probably command count meet field instead retreated city walls arabs assaulted city days employing siege engines destroyed walls eventually failed late august raised siege departed taking captives booty 12th century chronicle claims city inhabitants abandoned fled ship arabs destroyed clearly error aftermath arab assault important success byzantines emperor regarded city survival sign divine favour newly instituted policies encouraged drive probably related incident mentioned account certain constantine served groom threw stone icon virgin mary soldier killed day catapult fact reports evidence divine vengeance passage shows strong signs anti probably originally pro story militarily siege high water mark raids armies penetrate deeply asia minor increasingly army provided manpower raids byzantium diverted hard fruitless wars inflicted heavy defeat muslims byzantine alliance sealed marriage son heir constantine princess shortly years byzantine strength revived muslim military situation fronts extended deteriorated consequently arab raids limited immediate frontier regions successes fewer assembled largest invasion force fielded byzantines recovered inflict heavy defeat battle
Siege of Nicaea (727)