Syrian campaigns of John Tzimiskes

Mesopotamian campaigns of John Tzimiskes
	Part of the Arab–Byzantine wars
	; John Tzimiskes receiving ambassadors from the Rus, miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes.
Date	974–975
Location	Syria, the Levant
Result	Byzantine victory
Territorial; changes	Ephemeral conquest of much of the Levant by the Byzantine Empire
Belligerents
Fatimid Caliphate ; Buyid dynasty (controlling de facto the Abbasid Caliphate ) Hamdanid dynasty in Mosul; Emirate of Damascus;	Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Al-Mu'izz ; Abu Taghlib ; Alptakin ; Kulayb ; Izz al-Dawla; Sebük-Tegin	John I Tzimiskes

The Mesopotamian campaigns of John Tzimiskes were a series of campaigns undertaken by the

Buyid overlords, over control of parts of Upper Mesopotamia

(Jazira).

Background

Relations between the Byzantines in

Nikephoros Phokas

, then the Byzantine Emperor, and ascended the throne.

Tzimiskes' reign, however, was almost immediately under threat, as in early 970 a large coalition of

Ikhshidid resistance in Syria and consolidated their power in Cairo.^[1] Tzimiskes would swiftly repel the invading Rus force at the Arcadiopolis, and, after conquering much of mainland Greece and Bulgaria in 971, the path for an eastern campaign was cleared. While Tzimiskes had been fighting in Bulgaria, the Fatimids managed to break into the Byzantine Empire itself and laid siege to Antioch, which had been captured from the Hamdanids six years earlier. Soon, by spring 971, an invading force of Qarmatians into Fatimid Syria forced the Egyptian army to withdraw.^[2]

The failure of the Fatimids to take Antioch proved the stability of Byzantium's eastern front, and, later in 971, Tzimiskes planned to initiate yet another eastern campaign.

Tzimiskes left

Martyropolis, but he was unable to take the city before the campaigning season ended.^[3]

Domestic of the East

As the campaigning season ended, Tzimiskes appointed to the position of Domestic of the East an

Al-Muti, on the subject of how best to deal with the threat they posed. The Armenians soon held a conference, and, after discussing with Byzantine envoys, formed a deal to accompany the Byzantines in a joint invasion of Syria and Mesopotamia in Spring 974, Tzimiskes marched east and joined with the Armenian forces at the capital of Taron, Muş

.

Tzimiskes' invasion

Tzimiskes swiftly advanced through Taghlib's lands, accepting tribute from Amida and Martyropolis in turn; he soon passed Nisibis, which was then deserted. Tzimiskes hoped to eventually advance on Mosul, and perhaps even Baghdad itself, thereby breaking the power of the Arabs in Mesopotamia whilst also increasing his legitimacy at home.[4] He soon advanced into Jazira. Later that year, however, Tzimiskes received news from across the fertile crescent: the Fatimids had crushed the Qarmatians in Syria and were now advancing up the Levant towards Antioch, having already taken Tripoli and Berytus. Tzimiskes realized that the risk posed to Antioch and Cilicia was far greater than any gains to be had from possessing Baghdad, and so he soon headed west, splitting his army in two. The Armenians were sent home and the Byzantines went on to resupply and refresh the garrison at Antioch. Tzimiskes then returned to Constantinople to celebrate a Triumph, and returned to the east in Spring 975.^[4]

Tzimiskes, once again, marched out of Antioch and down the Orontes, quickly taking Emesa. From there he besieged and took Heliopolis, and then advanced on Damascus, whose ruler, Amir Aftakin, a refugee from Baghdad who had recognized Fatimid suzerainty, surrendered his lands to Tzimiskes. He then marched south, taking Galilee, Tiberias, and Nazareth. Envoys from Acre soon reached Tzimiskes' camp on Mount Tabor accepting a Byzantine garrison. Envoys also arrived from Ramla and Jerusalem expressing their desire for Tzimiskes to take their cities.^[5] He soon took Caesarea, which would prove to be the limit of his advance.

At this point, Tzimiskes was far too concerned with the Fatimids' continual hold on the Levantine coast to advance further into Palestine. Important cities such as Tripoli,

Sahyun. Governors and garrisons were appointed for the conquered cities, the administration arranged, and Tzimiskes returned to Antioch in September 975.^[7]