<>
thyreos

Byzantine Battles

<>
Abydos, 989
Ad Decimum, 533
Ad Salices, 377
Adramyttium, 1205
Adrianople, 324
Adrianople, 378
Adrianople, 813
Adrianople, 1254
Adrianople, 1369
Ajnadayn, 634
Akroinos, 740
Aleppo, 637
Aleppo, 962
Aleppo, 969
Alexandretta, 971
Altava, 578
Alexandria, 641
Amida, 502-503
Amida, 359
Amida, 973
Amorium, 838
Anchialus, 708
Anchialus, 763
Anchialus, 917
Andrassus, 960
Ani, 1064
Anthidon, 634
Antioch, 540
Antioch, 611
Antioch, 969
Antioch on Meander, 1211
Anzen, 838
Apadna, 503
Apamea, 998
Apros, 1305
Apulia, 1155
Aquae Saravenae, 979
Araxes, 589
Arcadiopolis, 970
Arcadiopolis, 1194
Ariminum, 538
Arzamon, 586
Attalia, 1207
Aurasium, 540
Auximus, 539
Azaz, 1030
Babylon, Egypt, 640
Balathista, 1014
Bapheus, 1302
Bargylus, 634
Bari, 1068-1071
Bathys Ryax, 872
Berat, 1281
Veroï, 1122
Balarathos, 591
Bar, 1042
Berzitia, 774
Bitola, 1015
Ganzaka, 591
Bosporus, 1352
Boulgarophygon, 896
Bourgaon, 535
Brindisi, 1156
Brocade, 634
Bursa, 1317-1326
Busta Gallorum, 552
Calavrye, 1079
Callinicum, 531
Campus Ardiensis, 316
Cannae, 1018
Cape Bon, 468
Carthage, 468
Carthage, 698
Cephalonia, 880
Kefalonia, 880
Lipares, 880
Stelai, 880
Castrogiovanni, 859
Chariopolis, 1051
Chersonesus, 447
Chrysopolis, 324
Cibalae, 316
Cillium, 544
Constantinople, 626
Constantinople, 674-678
Constantinople, 717-718
Constantinople, 941
Constantinople, 1047
Constantinople, 1187
Constantinople, 1204
Constantinople, 1235
Constantinople, 1260
Constantinople, 1261
Constantinople, 1422
Constantinople, 1453
Cotyaeum, 492
Crasus, 804
Crete, 824
Crete, 828
Crete, 961
Ctesiphon, 363
Damascus, 634
Damietta, 853
Daras, 530
Daras, 573
Dathin, 634
Dazimon, 838
Demetrias, 1274
Demotika, 1352
Devina, 1279
Diakene, 1050
Diampoli, 1049
Didymoteichon, 1352
Dimitritsi, 1185
Dorostalon, 971
Dranginai, 1040
Dyrrachium, 1018
Dyrrachium, 1081
Caesarea, 1073
Echinades, 1427
Edessa, 1031
Ekato Vounoi, 1050
Emessa, 635-636
Faventia, 542
Fields of Cato, 548
Firaz, 634
Frigidus, 394
Gallipoli, 1354
Gallipoli, 1366
Hades, 1057
Heliopolis, 640
Hellespont, 324
Heraclea, 806
Hieromyax, 636
Hyelion - Leimocheir,1177
Iron Bridge, 637
Ieromyax, 636
Jerusalem, 614
Jerusalem, 637
Kaisareia, 1073
Kalavrye, 1079
Kapetron, 1049
Katasyrtai, 917
Kleidion, 1014
Klokotnitsa, 1230
Kopidnadon, 788
Koundouros, 1205
Krasos, 804
Lalakaon, 863
Larissa, 1084
Lemnos, 1025
Levounion, 1091
Makryplagi, 1264
Mammes, 534
Manzikert, 1071
Maogamalcha, 363
Maranga, 363
Marcellae, 756
Marcellae, 792
Marcianopolis, 377
Mardia, 316
Marj-ud-Deebaj, 634
Marta, 547
Masts, 655
Martyropolis, 588
Mavropotamos, 844
Mediolanum, 539
Melanthius, 559
Melantias, 559
Melitene, 576
Membresa, 536
Mercurii Promontorium, 468
Messina, 843
Milano, 539
Milvian Bridge, 312
Mons Seleucus, 353
Monte Siricolo, 1041
Montepeloso, 1041
Montemaggiore, 1041
Morava, 1191
Mount Lactarius, 553
Mucellium, 542
Mursa Major, 351
Mutah, 629
Myriokephalon, 1176
Naples, 536
Neopatras, 1274
Nicaea, 1077
Nicaea, 1097
Nicaea, 1328-1331
Nicomedia, 782
Nicomedia, 1337
Nikiou, 646
Nineveh, 627
Nisibis, 338
Nisibis, 350
Noviodunum, 369
Olivento, 1041
Ongal, 680
Ophlimos, 622
Orontes, 994
Osimo, 539
Ostrovo, 1043
Palakazio, 1021
Palermo, 830-831
Pancalia, 978
Pegae, 922
Pelacanon, 1329
Pelagonia, 1259
Petra, 549
Petra, 551
Petroe, 1057
Perkri, 1034
Pharsalus, 1277
Philadelphia, 1390
Philomelion, 1117
Phoenix, 655
Pirisabora, 363
Pliska, 811
Poimanenon, 1224
Poson, 863
Preslava, 1053
Prinitza, 1263
Prusa, 1326
Rhodes, 1249
Rhodes, 1309
Rhyndacus, 1211
Rimini, 538
Rishki Pass, 759
Rome, 537-538
Rome, 545 - 546
Rometta, 964
Rometta, 1038
Rousokastro, 1332
Rus Raid, 860
Rus Raid, 941
Rus Raid, 1025
Rus Raid, 1043
Samarra, 363
Sardis, 743
Satala, 530
Save, 388
Saxa Rubra, 312
Scalas Veteres, 537
Sebastia, 1070
Sebastopolis, 692
Sedica, 809
Sena Gallica, 551
Setina, 1017
Shirimni, 1021
Singara, 344
Sirmium, 441
Sirmium, 580-582
Sirmium, 1167
Siscia, 388
Skafida, 1304
Solachon, 586
Spercheios, 997
Strumica, 1014
Strymon, 1185
Sufetula, 647
Svindax, 1022
Syllaeum, 677
Syracuse, 827-828
Syracuse, 877-878
Taginae, 552
Taormina, 902
Tarsus, 965
Thacia, 545
Thannourios, 528
Thasos, 829
Thessalonica, 586
Thessalonica, 615
Thessalonica, 617
Thessalonica, 676-678
Thessalonica, 904
Thessalonica, 995
Thessalonica, 1014
Thessalonica, 1040
Thessalonica, 1185
Thessalonica, 1224
Thessalonica, 1264
Thessalonica, 1430
Thomas the Slav, 821-823
Tornikios, 1047
Trajan’s Gate, 986
Tricameron, 533
Troina, 1040
Tryavna, 1190
Utus, 447
Vasiliki Livada, 1050
Veregava, 759
Versinikia, 813
Vescera, 682
Vesuvius, 553
Vid, 447
Viminacium, 599
Volturnus, 554
Wadi al-Arabah, 634
Yarmuk, 636
Zombos, 1074
Zygos pass, 1053
   4 th   century
   5 th   century
   6 th   century
   7 th   century
   8 th   century
   9 th   century
  10 th   century
  11 th   century
  12 th   century
  13 th   century
  14 th   century
  15 th   century

Aspis

Siege of Constantinople (1st)

year:

674-678

The first unsuccessful siege of the Constantinople by the Arabs ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Arabs (Umayyads)
location:
Constantinople
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Siege
war:
Early Byzantine-Muslim Wars
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:   Constantine IV) The Enemies
Commander: Emperor Constantine IV Various
Forces: possibly around 40,000 unknown but outnumbering Byzantines
Losses:

Background story:
In 661 the Arab civil war ended and Muawiya I emerged as caliph and ruler of the Muslim Arab empire. He was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate. The seat of the new caliph was no longer Medina, but Damascus in Syria.
Not long after the end of the civil war, Muawiya broke the truce with Byzantium (which lasted just a few years). Almost from the beginning, it became obvious the his overall objective was the Byzantine capital, Constantinople.
Starting in 662, Muslim armies began raiding and wintering on Byzantine soil west of the Taurus mountain, the Anatolian frontier. Since then, they were launching raids on an annual or bi-annual basis. These land expeditions were often coupled with naval raids against the coasts of southern Asia Minor.
In spring 669, Fadala ibn Ubayd entered Asia Minor with a large army and advanced as far as Chalcedon, on the Asian shore of the Bosporus across from the Byzantine capital. The Arab attacks were repelled, and the Arab army was decimated by famine and disease. Muawiya dispatched another army, led by his son (and future Caliph) Yazid, to Fadala’s aid. The Arabs remained in Chalcedon for a while, and perhaps they tried an assault against Constantinople (this is not clear) but being unprepared for a lengthy campaign, they left returning to Syria. On their way, they captured and garrisoned Amorium, an important fortress-city. This was the first time the Arabs tried to hold a fortress in the interior of Asia Minor, beyond the campaigning season, and probably meant that they intended to use the fortress as a base for future campaigns; Amorium, however, was retaken by the Byzantines next winter.

The campaign of 669 clearly showed to the Arabs the possibility of a direct strike at Constantinople, as well as the necessity of having a supply base in the region. This was found in the peninsula of Cyzicus on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara. A raiding fleet under Fadhala ibn Ubayd captured Cyzicus and wintered there in 670 or 671. Cyzicus would serve as a key naval base of the Arabs in the following years during the escalation of the operations against Constantinople.
Muawiya now began preparing his final moves. In contrast to the Chalcedon expedition, his plan was to take a coastal route to Constantinople. The undertaking followed a methodical, phased approach: first the Muslims had to secure bases along the coast, and then, with Cyzicus as a base, Constantinople would be blockaded by land and sea and cut off from the hinterland that supplied its food.
Accordingly, in 672 three great Muslim fleets were dispatched to secure the sea lanes and establish bases between Syria and the Aegean. Muhammad ibn Abdallah's fleet captured Smyrna, another fleet wintered in Lycia and Cilicia, and a third fleet, joined them later. In 673, another Arab fleet captured Tarsus in Cilicia, as well as Rhodes. The latter, halfway between Syria and Constantinople, was converted for a few years into a supply base and center for Muslim naval raids.
Greek Fire


Just prior to the siege, a Greek refugee from Syria named Kallinikos (Callinicus) of Heliopolis had invented for the Byzantine Empire a devastating new weapon that came to be known as the “Greek fire”.

The Battle:
Constantinople (1st)
siege of 674-678
In 674, the Arab fleet sailed from its bases in the eastern Aegean, passed through the unguarded channel of the Hellespont and entered the Sea of Marmara.
As Gibbon put it: “46 years after the flight of Mahomet from Mecca, his disciples appeared in arms under the walls of Constantinople. They were animated by a genuine or fictitious saying of the prophet, that, to the first army which besieged the city of the Caesars, their sins were forgiven: the long series of Roman triumphs would be meritoriously transferred to the conquerors of New Rome; and the wealth of nations was deposited in this well-chosen seat of royalty and commerce.”

The Arab invasion force landed in April 674 on the Thracian shore in the district Hebdomon which was located outside the walls. Until September, there were constant clashes with the Byzantine troops and constant attacks against the walls.
Apparently, the Arabs were not very well prepared for this operation. Their fairly lightly armed army and fleet did not have so much chance to break into this grandiose fortress defended by a system of massive walls and the sea. Constantinople was not under a serious threat to be captured at that siege. The big problem was the blockade of the city that lasted for 7 years (counting the earlier campaigns as well).
According to Theophanes, in the first year, “Every day there was a battle from morning until evening, between the outworks of the Golden Gate and the Kyklobion, with attacks and counter-attacks”. After September, the Arabs departed and made for Cyzicus, 80 miles from Constantinople, to spend the winter.
This set the pattern that continued throughout the siege: each spring, the Arabs crossed the Marmara and assaulted Constantinople, withdrawing for the winter to Cyzicus, in which they had established their magazine of spoil and provisions.
This went on for 5 years. The winter withdrawals of the enemy fleet gave the Byzantines the precious opportunity to replenish their supplies and repair the city walls that had been partly damaged by the enemy.
In fact, this siege of Constantinople was a series of engagements around the city with various Muslims forces coming and going. It is not known who was the commander of the Arab forces. According to Muslim sources, several important personalities of early Islam are reported as taking part. But we don’t really know who was the leader.

The firm and effectual resistance by the Byzantines discouraged the Arabs that were used to quick victories with fast moving cavalry tactics. Arab fighters joined the siege looking for fast loot and slaves. Their leadership needed to keep the troops happy and diverted their arms to the more easy attempt of plundering the European and Asiatic coasts of the Propontis. But each year had seen a gradual abatement of Arab morale and vigor.

In autumn 677 or early 678, after 4 years of siege, Constantine IV resolved to confront the Arab besiegers in a head-on engagement. His fleet was now ready to make use of the new weapon, the “Greek fire”. The Arab ships were almost all destroyed. The naval victory ensured that Constantinople could be re-supplied by sea. Meanwhile, the Arab forces were beset with starvation in winter.
The Arabs were able to replace the lost ships, but after some more defeats, they finally broke camp in 678, ending 5 years of fruitless siege, and returned home.

Noteworthy:
This is the first known use of Greek fire in combat.

Aftermath:
It was the first of several times that the walls of Constantinople saved Byzantium and the western world from invading Muslims. For the Arabs, it was their first serious failure after many years of conquests.
In 679 Muawiya sued for peace and agreed to pay an annual tribute of 50 horses, 50 slaves and 3000 golden coins.