Arab raid against Rome
The Arab raid against Rome took place in 846.
Background
In the 820s, the
There is disagreement among the chroniclers over the origins of the raiders who attacked Rome, although most sources describe them as Saracens. According to the
In 842 or thereabouts,[1] according to the Deeds of the Bishops of Naples, Saracens from Sicily occupied the Pontine Islands and the isle of Licosa, but were driven off by Duke Sergius I of Naples and a coalition he had formed with Amalfi, Gaeta and Sorrento. Deprived of their island bases, these Saracens occupied the harbour of Miseno near Naples. From there they launched their attack on Rome the next year. This source can be reconciled with those which give the raiders an African origin since the Muslims then conquering Sicily under the Aghlabids were originally from Africa.[2]
Raid
A large force landed at
At the same time, other Arab forces landed at
Some
No contemporary account hints at any attempt to penetrate the city, but it is possible that the Romans defended the walls, while around Saint Peter's, members of the Vatican scholae (Saxons, Lombards, Frisians and Franks) attempted to resist, but were defeated.[6]
In the meantime, an army coming from Spoleto and headed by Lombard Duke Guy, attacked the Arabs, hindered by booty and prisoners, in front of the city walls, pursuing a part of them until Centumcellae, while another group tried to reach Misenum by land.[7] The Saracens were able to embark, but a storm destroyed many ships, bringing onto the beaches many corpses adorned with jewels which could be recovered.[7] After that, the Lombard army headed south, reaching the Arabs at Gaeta, where another battle was engaged.[7] On that occasion, only the arrival of Cesarius, son of Sergius, Magister Militum of Naples, decided the battle in favour of the Christians.[7]
Aftermath
Shortly after the siege,
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Kreutz 1996, pp. 25–28.
- ^ a b Lankila 2013, pp. 98–99.
- ^ a b c Gregorovius 1988, p. 99.
- ^ Gregorovius 1988, p. 101.
- ISBN 9780520021815. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
[A]lthough it was not at this time usual for Muslims to desecrate Christian Churches for the sake of desecrating them, excavation has revealed that the tomb of the apostle was wantonly smashed
- ^ Gregorovius 1988, p. 100.
- ^ a b c d Gregorovius 1988, p. 103.
Sources
- ISBN 9788840381756.
- Lankila, Tommi P. (2013). "The Saracen Raid of Rome in 846: An Example of Maritime Ghazw". In Sylvia Akar; Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila; Inka Nokso-Koivisto (eds.). Travelling through Time: Essays in honour of Kaj Öhrnberg. Studia Orientalia. Vol. 114. Helsinki: Societas Orientalis Fennica. pp. 93–120. ISSN 0039-3282.
- Kreutz, Barbara (1996). Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries. University of Pennsylvania Press.