Siege of Antioch (968–969)

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Siege of Antioch (968–969)
Part of the
Hamdanid Dynasty
(modern-day Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
)
Result Byzantine victory
Territorial
changes		 Antioch conquered by Byzantium
Belligerents
Hamdanid Dynasty
Byzantine EmpireCommanders and leaders Aulax Michael Bourtzes
Petros
Sachakios BrachamiosStrength Garrison of Antioch 1,000 infantry
500 cavalryCasualties and losses heavy light

The siege of Antioch in 968–969 was a successful military offensive undertaken by leading commanders of the

Hamdanid Dynasty
.

Following a year of plunder in

Qarquya.[4][5] Here it is possible that Bourtzes entered into an alliance with Aulax, the commander of the "Kallas" towers.[2] Supposedly, Aulax, in exchange for gifts and prestige, assisted Bourtzes in transporting him, his commander Sachakios Brachamios, and 300 men on top of the Kallas towers during the night; upon ascending the towers, the Byzantines were able to gain a foothold in the outer defenses of the city.[2][1][3][6][7]

Bourtzes, now in control of the outer walls, sent a message to Petros recalling him to Antioch in order to take the city. At first, Petros was hesitant, remembering the emperor's orders not to take Antioch by force, but, as the requests from Bourtzes became more desperate and his men began to lose ground on the walls, he decided to return to Antioch to assist in taking the city.[2][1] Petros approached the Kallas gates on 28 October, 969 and, upon witnessing his impending attack, the Antiochenes retreated and were defeated.[2][1][4]

Following the capture of Antioch, Bourtzes was removed from his position by Nikephoros due to his disobedience, and would go on to assist in a plot which would end in Nikephoros' assassination, while Petros would move deeper into Syrian territory, besieging and taking Aleppo itself and establishing the Byzantine Tributary of Aleppo through the Treaty of Safar.[4][3] [2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Romane 2015, p. 36.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kaldellis 2017, p. 63.
  3. ^ a b c PmbZ, Michael Burtzes (#25253).
  4. ^ a b c PmbZ, Petros (#26496).
  5. ^ PmbZ, 'Ayšalš (#20708).
  6. ^ PmbZ, Aulax (#20700).
  7. ^ PmbZ, Sachakios Brachamios (#26952).

Sources

  • Kaldellis, Anthony (2017). Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade. Oxford University Press.
    ISBN 978-0190253226
    .
  • Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Pratsch, Thomas; Zielke, Beate (2013). Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Nach Vorarbeiten F. Winkelmanns erstellt (in German). Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter.
  • Romane, Julian (2015). Byzantium Triumphant. Pen and Sword Books.
    ISBN 978-1473845701
    .

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