arabic hero died muslim warrior arab byzantine wars early 8th century participating campaigns launched byzantine_empire historical facts life scarce extensive pseudo historical legendary tradition grew death famous figure arab later turkish epic literature biography known origin early life later accounts claim hailed damascus family given usually known tribal affiliation suggests arab origin context suggests convert islam meaning servant given new converts early islamic times suggested person certain recorded byzantine chronicler campaign actual personal alternatively simply according historical sources appears annual raids campaign commanded ibn son reigning reigned led vanguard penetrated far city captured razed army went unsuccessfully lay siege considers capture ranks greatest successes arms byzantines period capture ibn later accounts 10th century place alongside failed siege constantinople arab accounts siege semi legendary impossible know report contains truth commanded raid little known probably failure remembered death battle arab hero ibn year campaigned alongside ibn raiding far byzantine army certain constantine tried confront muslims defeated constantine took prisoner appearance major campaign involving tens thousands men launched byzantium ibn deputy governor commanded strong cavalry force ibn led main force force reached far confronted defeated byzantines emperor person arab generals thirds army perished legend military career particularly distinguished quickly subject popular tales fame grew 10th century established heroic figures arab byzantine wars meadows gold viii ranks muslims portraits displayed byzantine churches mark respect 10th 12th centuries alleged role siege constantinople embellished persian historian mystic number fictional anecdotes accepted historical corpus time ibn use children byzantines entry pretending messenger discovery byzantine plans stay convent shielded byzantine soldiers took married finally death battle burial attended emperor leo hand beginning ibn contemporary ibn succession muslim critical introduced accounts life particular regarded poor confused material suitable exploits subject arabic language tale turkish epic tradition composed 12th century draw common arabic tradition significant differences turkish tale including uniquely persian influences including supernatural elements folk tradition motifs romance muslim place century associate epic cycle died result particularly associated city region role wars byzantium taken hero tales presented islamic extent turks adopted following conquest prominent turkish national hero symbol conquest asia minor stories reworked ottoman periods subject considerable body folk tales cult developed figure especially supposed tomb major centre pilgrimage early 20th century drawing pilgrims far
Abdallah al-Battal