Difference between revisions 112480344 and 112480345 on dewiki

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{{Infobox Military Conflict
|image=[[Image:Greekfire-madridskylitzes1.jpg|center|300px]]
|caption=[[Greek fire]], first used by the [[Byzantine Navy]] during the Byzantine-Arab Wars.
|conflict=Byzantine-Arab Wars
|partof=the [[Muslim conquests]]
|date=629-1180
|place= Levant, Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Anatolia, Crete, Sicily, Southern Italy
(contracted; show full)

== Later conflicts ==
{{main|Byzantine–Arab Wars (780–1180)|History of Islam in southern Italy|Macedonian dynasty}}
{{see also|Iconoclasm}}
The primary conflict ended with the siege of Constantinople in 718, and although later conflicts continued into the 11th century, the conquests of the Arabs began to retard. Arab attempts at taking [[Anatolia]] failed, and it was eventually taken instead by the [[Seljuk Turks]].

=== Iconoclast controversy ===

{{further information|[[Iconoclasm (Byzantine)]]}}
[[Image:Histamenon nomisma-Nicephorus II and Basil II-sb1776.jpg|thumb|left||[[Nikephoros II]] and his stepson [[Basil II]] (right).  Under the [[Macedonian dynasty|Makedonoi]], the Byzantine Empire became the strongest power in Europe, recovering territories lost in the war.]]⏎
⏎
Among the effects of the Byzantine-Arab Wars was the religious and civil unrest it stirred in the heart of [[Byzantium]].  The ''Iconomachia'', or "Wars of the [[Icon]]s", began when a 726 edict of Leo the Isaurian decreed the [[crucifix]] be replaced by a plain [[Cross]], sparking off the controversy of [[Iconoclasm]].<ref name="Europe245"/> Writings suggest that at least part of the reason for the removal may have been military reversals against the [[Muslims](contracted; show full)e="Woods">[[Thomas Woods]], ''How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization'', (Washington, DC: Regenery, 2005), ISBN 0-89526-038-7</ref> "He saw no need to consult the church, and he appears to have been surprised by the depth of the popular opposition he encountered".<ref name="treadgold1">Warren Treadgold, ''A History of the Byzantine State and Society'', Stanford University Press, 1997, ISBN 0804726302</ref>
⏎
[[Image:Histamenon nomisma-Nicephorus II and Basil II-sb1776.jpg|thumb|left|260px|[[Nikephoros II]] and his stepson [[Basil II]].  Under the [[Macedonian dynasty|Makedonoi]], the Byzantine Empire became the strongest power in Europe, recovering territories lost in the war.]]⏎
In 732, Leo launched a fleet to arrest [[Pope Gregory III]] for defying the edict and recover [[Ravenna]].<ref name="Europe273">''Europe: A History'', p273. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0-19-820171-0</ref>  The ships sank en route in the [[Adriatic Sea]], but the strife was far from over.<ref name="Europe273"/> The controversy weakened the Byzantine Empire, and was a key factor in the schism between the [[Patriarch of Constantinople]] and the [[Bishop of Rome]].<ref name="Europe246">''Europe: A History'', p246. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0-19-820171-0</ref><ref name="Europe273"/>

Meanwhile between 750 and 770, Constantine launched a series of campaigns against the Arabs and Bulgars in an attempt to reverse so many losses.<ref>Haldon, John.  Byzantium at War 600 - 1453. New York: Osprey, 2000. </ref>

[[Image:Byzantine Empire Themata-950.png|300px|thumb|right|The ''[[Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|themata]]'', ''circa'' AD 950. Syria would be added by the end of the century, bringing the Empire to its greatest height since the war began.]]⏎
Civil war occurred in the Byzantine Empire, often with Arab support.  With the support of Caliph [[Al-Ma'mun]], Arabs under the leadership of [[Thomas the Slav]] invaded, so that within a matter of months, only two ''[[Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|themata]]'' in Asia Minor remained loyal to Emperor [[Michael II]].<ref name="Thomas">{{cite book |author=John Julius Norwich|title=A Short History of Byzantium |publisher=Penguin |year=1998 |isbn=0-14-025960-0}}</ref> When Thomas captured [[Thessalonica]], the Empire's second largest city, it was quickly re-captured by the Byzantines.<ref name="Thomas"/> Thomas's 821 siege of Constantinople did not get past the [[Walls of Constantinople|city walls]], and he was forced to retreat.<ref name="Thomas"/>

=== Asia Minor, Crete and Sicily ===

The Arabs did not relinquish their designs on Asia Minor and in 838 began another invasion, sacking the city of [[Amorion]].<ref>Haldon, John. Byzantium at War 600 - 1453. New York: Osprey, 2000.</ref> With internal Byzantine unity weakened, along with their ties to the West, [[Crete]] fell to the [[Saracens]] in 824, and [[Sicily]] was slowly lost over a 75-year period.  Using [[Tunisia]] as their launching pad, the Arabs started by conquering [[Palermo]] in 831, [[Messina]] in 842, [[Enna]] in 859.

=== Byzantine resurgence ===⏎
[[Image:Italy 1000 AD.svg|thumb|right|160px|Italy around 1000]]

However, religious peace came with the emergence of the [[Macedonian dynasty]] in 867, as well as a strong and unified Byzantine leadership;<ref name="Europe"> ''Europe: A History''. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0-19-820171-0</ref> while the [[Abassids]] empire had splintered into many factions.  [[Basil I]] revived the Byzantine Empire into a regional power, during a period of territorial expansion, making the Empire the strongest power in [[Europe](contracted; show full)of Sicily was lost, the general Nicephorus Phocas the Elder succeeded in taking [[Taranto]] and much of [[Calabria]] in 880. Crete was retaken by the Byantines in 960, and would be held until 1204, when it fell to the [[Venice]] during the [[Fourth Crusade]]. The successes in the [[Italian Peninsula]] opened a new period of Byzantine domination there. Above all, the Byzantines were beginning to establish a strong presence in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], and especially the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]].

[[Image:
The seizure of Edessa in Syria by the Byzantine army and the Arabic counterattack from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes.jpg|thumb|left|320px|The Byzantine seizure of Edessa. The Byzantines were able to campaign far into Syria and subject some rulers as vassals, a clear sign of Byzantine resurgenceByzantine Empire Themata-950.png|thumb|right|The ''[[Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)|themata]]'', c. 950.  The addition of Syria by the end of the century would bringing the Empire to its greatest height since the war began.]]
After putting an end to the internal strife, [[Basil II]] launched a campaign against the Arabs in 995. The Byzantine civil wars had weakened the Empire's position in the east, and the gains of [[Nikephoros II Phokas]] and [[John I Tzimiskes]] came close to being lost, with [[Aleppo]] besieged and Antioch under threat. Basil won several battles in [[Syria]], relieving Aleppo, taking over the [[Orontes]] valley, and raiding further south. Although he did not have the force to drive into Palestine an(contracted; show full)[[Category:Battles involving the Umayyad Caliphate]]

[[ar:حروب العرب والبيزنطيين]]
[[cs:Byzantsko-arabské války]]
[[fr:Guerres entre Arabes et Empire byzantin]]
[[it:Guerre arabo-bizantine (780-1180)]]
[[nl:Byzantijns-Arabische oorlogen]]
[[ru:Арабо-византийские войны]]