Battle of Mauropotamos
Battle of Mauropotamos | |
---|---|
Part of the Asia Minor | |
Result | Abbasid victory |
Umar al-Aqta
The Battle of Mauropotamos (
Background
Following the
The first such campaign, an attempted reconquest of the Emirate of Crete led by Theoktistos in person, made initial gains, but ultimately ended in disaster. After scoring a victory over the Arabs in Crete, Theoktistos learned of a rumour that Theodora intended to name a new emperor, possibly her brother Bardas. Theoktistos hurried back to Constantinople, where he discovered that the rumour was false, but in his absence, the Byzantine army in Crete was routed by the Arabs.[3][4]
Battle
In 844, according to Byzantine sources, Theoktistos learned of an Arab invasion of Byzantine
Theoktistos led the Byzantine army against the invaders, but was heavily defeated at Mauropotamos ("Black River"). The location of the latter, if indeed it is a river and not a simple toponym, is disputed; it was most likely a tributary of the
Aftermath
The Abbasids were unable to exploit their success due to the internal instability of the Caliphate. Likewise, the Byzantines preferred to focus their strength against the ongoing conquest of Sicily by the Aghlabids. Thus, a Byzantine embassy was sent to Baghdad in 845, which was warmly received. The Abbasids reciprocated with an embassy to Constantinople, where the two states agreed on a truce and a prisoner exchange, which was held at the River Lamos on 16 September 845. A winter raid by the Arab governor of Tarsus shortly after failed disastrously, after which the Arab-Byzantine frontier remained quiet for six years.[10][11]
References
- ^ a b Kiapidou 2003, Chapter 1 Archived November 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Treadgold 1997, pp. 446–447.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, pp. 194–195.
- ^ a b Treadgold 1997, p. 447.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, pp. 195–196.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, pp. 399–404.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, pp. 196–198.
- ^ Kiapidou 2003, Chapter 2 Archived November 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, p. 198.
- ^ a b Kiapidou 2003, Chapter 3 Archived November 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Vasiliev 1935, pp. 198–204; Treadgold 1997, pp. 447–449.
Sources
- Kiapidou, Irini-Sofia (14 March 2003). "Battle of Mavropotamos, 844". Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. Athens: Foundation of the Hellenic World. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ISBN 0-8047-2630-2.
- OCLC 181731396.