Χρονολόγηση March - April 837. Γεωγραφικός Εντοπισμός Sozopetra, Arsamosata, Melitene IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ. 1. Historical background

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1 Περίληψη : Between March and April of 837 the emperor Theophilos campaigned against the Arabs in charge of a large army. Initially he conquered Sozopetra, which he plundered and destroyed, whereas later he conquered and burned down Arsamosata. Then he moved towards the north, pillaging the suburbs of Melitene. After the completion of the campaign and with a great number of prisoners and much plunder, Theophilos returned to Constantinople, where he organized an illustrious triumph. Χρονολόγηση March - April 837 Γεωγραφικός Εντοπισμός Sozopetra, Arsamosata, Melitene 1. Historical background The campaign of emperor Theophilos against the Arabs in Asia Minor in March - April of is inscribed in the framework of the Arab-Byzantine warfare which begun in the 7th century. The perpetual target of the operations, whose frequency was intensified during the 9th century, was the weakening of the adversary and the securing of the control of as many regions of the East (Asia Minor) and the West as possible. A temporary ceasefire between the Arabs and the Byzantines had occured in 834, mainly because the Arab caliph al-mut asim ( ) was occupied with the suppression of the Persian rebel Bābak inside his state. 2 Theophilos decided to attack the Arabs first, probably encouraged by the presence of the Persian Nasr/Theophobos and his troops, 3 supporters of Bābak, who, after his master s defeat by the Arabs (25th December 833), 4 had sought refuge in Byzantium. The victory of the Byzantines at Castrogiovanni in Sicily against the Arabs in the same year probably also strengthened the courage of the Byzantines. Nevertheless, the most decisive role must have been played by the contacts Theophilos had during the Spring of 837 with Bābak, who, during that period, was in a difficult position since all the Arab army was sent against him. In an effort to improve his situation, Bābak sent a letter to Theophilos, urging him to immediately attack the caliphate, 5 having no fear of any important resistance and without also endangering the defence of the Empire with the participation of most of the themata of Asia Minor to the campaign. 2. Beginning and outcome of the campaign In March of 837 Theophilos placed a powerful military force under his command, 6 which comprised the troops of the themes of Asia Minor, the tagmata under the command of the domesticos of the scolaemanuel, the Persians of Nasr/Theophobos, as well as regiments of Slavs and Bulgarians, in order to make another campaign against the Arabs. Having notified the Armenians for his arrival to the area and demanding them to pay him a tax, he invaded the Arab territory, most probably through the passage of Melitene. 7 Initially he headed towards Sozopetra (Zapetra), 8 which he conquered, releasing every Byzantine prisoner he found there. Then he ordered the whole male population who had fallen into the hands of the Byzantines to be put to death and, after pillaging and destroying the city, he moved on, taking the women and the children with him as prisoners. Then Theophilos attacked Arsamosata, which he also conquered and burned, and then he moved more to the north pillaging the suburbs of Melitene. The inhabitants of Melitene, having been informed of the fate of the two previous cities, came to an agreement with Theophilos, released every Byzantine prisoner they had taken during the two previous years 9 and thus managed to save their city from destruction. 10 Escorted by a large number of prisoners and having victoriously concluded his campaign, the emperor returned to Constantinople, where he organized a great triumph, during which he also participated in horse races. Furthermore, Theophilos ordered the construction of a palace at Bryas, on the Asian side of Propontis, to commemorate his victorious campaign. 3. Consequences The successful campaign of Theophilos against the Arabs in 837 definitely strengthened the prestige of the Byzantines on the eastern Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 1/6

2 front and uplifted the moral of the imperial troops. In the same time, it strengthened the economy of the Empire thanks to the prisoners and the loot the emperor brought back, as well as thanks to the amount of money the Armenians contributed, whereas the Armenian ruler of the area of Syspiritis, which neighboured the Byzantine lands of Chaldia, agreed to become a vassal of the emperor. 11 The military victories of the Byzantines had an immediate impact on the Arab side, enraging the caliph al-mut asim, who wanted to take revenge immediately, mainly for the destruction of Sozopetra and the brutalities made against the population. Through this intensely loaded sentimental atmosphere he prepared his campaign against Byzantium, which he materialized during the next year (838), aiming basically in capturing Amorion, birthplace of the dynasty of Theophilos. 12 As for Bābak, the victory of the Byzantines against the Arabs did not improve his situation, since shortly after (September 837), he was captured by the troops of the caliph and in January of 838 he was put to death. 1. Rékaya, M., Mise au point sur Théophobe et l alliance de Babek avec Théophile (833/ /840), Byzantion 44 (1974), p ; Cheynet, J. Cl., Théophile, Théophobe et les Perses, in Λαμπάκης, Σ. (ed.), Η Βυζαντινή Μικρά Ασία (6ος 12ος αιώνας) (Διεθνή Συμπόσια 6, Αθήνα 1998), p. 40. In contrast, Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p. 293, dates the campaign in the summer of This revolt mainly aimed in the promotion of social reformations in the Arabic caliphate. It lasted from 816 until September of 837, initially under the reign of al Ma mūn, ) and was suppressed by his successor al Mut asim. 3. Χριστοφιλοπούλου, Αικατερίνη, Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2/1: (Θεσσαλονίκη 1993), p Nasr took the name Theophobos after he was baptised and it is under this name that he is attested in the Byzantine sources. See more in Rékaya, M., Mise au point sur Théophobe et l alliance de Babek avec Théophile (833/ /840), Byzantion 44 (1974), p Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La Dynastie d Amorium ( ) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1962), p. 138, and Cheynet, J. Cl., Théophile, Théophobe et les Perses, in Λαμπάκης, Σ. (ed.), Η Βυζαντινή Μικρά Ασία (6ος 12ος αιώνας) (Διεθνή Συμπόσια 6, Αθήνα 1998), p. 40, in general date the event in 833, whereas Χριστοφιλοπούλου Αικατερίνη, Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2/1: (Θεσσαλονίκη 1993), p. 204, places it in the year According to Rosser, J., Theophilos Khurramite Policy and its Finale: The Revolt of Theophobus Persian Troops in 838, Βυζαντινά 6 (1974), p. 265, there was a previous alliance between the emperor Theophilos and Bābak, according to which the Byzantine emperor had to help the Persian rebel. This possibility is rejected by Rékaya, M., Mise au point sur Théophobe et l alliance de Babek avec Théophile (833/ /840), Byzantion 44 (1974), p Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La Dynastie d Amorium ( ) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1962), p. 138, estimates a number of 70,000 to 100,000 men, whereas Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p. 293, approximately 70,000 soldiers and 30,000 auxiliaries. 7. Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p Byzantine sources mention that Sozopetra was the birthplace of the caliph and for this reason the former asked the Byzantine emperor to be merciful towards the city. Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La Dynastie d Amorium ( ) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1962), p , and Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p. 440, n. 401, consider this testimony as a later myth, which was created in order to parallelize the fall of Sozopetra in 837 to the fall of the birthplace of Theophilos, i.e. Amorion, in 838. Hild, F. Restle, M., Kappadokien (Kappadokia,Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Tabula Imperii Byzantini 2, Wien 1981), p. 287, also believe that this myth was invented by the Byzantine historians in order to weaken the importance of the defeat of the Byzantines in Amorion, since the previous conquest of the birthplace of the Arab caliph appears as a reason for it. In the contrary, Άμαντος, Κ., Ιστορία του βυζαντινού κράτους, τόμ. 13 (Αθήνα 1963), p. 414, and Χριστοφιλοπούλου, Αικατερίνη, Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2/1: (Θεσσαλονίκη 1993), p. 204, accept the information of the Byzantine sources as credible. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 2/6

3 9. Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La Dynastie d Amorium ( ) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1962), p. 139, mentions that Theophilos stormed Melitene too, something which is questioned by Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p. 440, n Hild, F. Restle, M., Kappadokien (Kappadokia Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Tabula Imperii Byzantini 2, Wien 1981), p. 234, share the same view with Treadgold. 11. Treadgold, W. T., The Byzantine Revival (Stanford 1988), p Rosser, J., Theophilos Khurramite Policy and its Finale: The Revolt of Theophobus Persian Troops in 838, Βυζαντινά 6 (1974), p. 265, believes that the policy of supporting the Persian rebels inside the Arabic caliphate, which was followed by Theophilos, is the only reason for the caliph s wrath and his harsh attack against Amorion. Βιβλιογραφία : Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973 Ostrogorsky G., Ιστορία του Βυζαντινού Κράτους, 1-3, Αθήνα 1989, Παναγόπουλος, I. (μτφρ.) Kaegi W.E., "Some reconsiderations on the themes (7th-9th centuries)", Jahrbuch der österreichischen byzantinischen Gesellschaft, 16, 1967, Hild F., Restle M., Kappadokien. Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos, Wien 1981, TIB 2 Belke K., Restle M., Galatien und Lykaonien, Wien 1984, TIB 4 Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2:1, Θεσσαλονίκη 1993 Vasiliev A.A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La dynastie d Amorium ( ), Bruxelles 1968, Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Grégoire, H. Canard, M. (trans.) Άμαντος Κ., Ιστορία του βυζαντινού κράτους 1, Αθήνα 1963 Rékaya M., "Mise au point sur Théophobe et l alliance de Babek avec Théophile (833/ /840)", Byzantion, 44, 1974, Rosser J., "Theophilus Khurramite Policy and its Finale: The Revolt of Theophobus Persian Troops in 838", Βυζαντινά, 6, 1974, Treadgold W.T., The Byzantine Revival , Stanford California 1988 Cheynet J.-C., "Théophile, Théophobe et les Perses", Λαμπάκης Σ. (επιμ.), Η Βυζαντινή Μικρά Ασία (6ος- 12ος αι.), ΙΒΕ/EIE - Κέντρο για Μελέτη Ελληνισμού Σπύρος Βρυώνης, Αθήνα 1998, Διεθνή Συμπόσια 6, Haldon J.F., The Byzantine Wars, Stroud 2001 Συμεών Μάγιστρος, Χρονικόν, Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006 Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 3/6

4 Συνεχισταί Θεοφάνους, Χρονογραφία συγγραφείσα εκ προστάγματος Κωνσταντίνου του φιλοχρίστου και πορφυρογεννήτου δεσπότου, Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus, Joannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838 Ιωσήφ Γενέσιος, Βασιλείαι, Lesmüller-Werner, Α. Thurn, Ι. (eds), Iosephi Genesii Regum Libri Quattuor, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 14, Berlin New York 1978 Συνεχιστής Γεωργίου Μοναχού, Βίοι των νέων βασιλέων, Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus, Joannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838 Δικτυογραφία : Babak Khorramdin Ninth-century Byzantine Army Theophilos (emperor) Γλωσσάριo : caliph The supreme religious and political authority of Muslims, considered successor of Muhammad (Arabic: khalifa = deputy). He was the head of the Caliphate, the religious state of the Arabs. domestikos ton scholon Commander of the regiment of scholae. The first officer with this title appears in 767/8. In the 10th C the domesticos became very powerful among the army of the themata; in mid-10th C the office was divided in two, domestikoi ton scholon of the East and those of the West, commanders in chief of the eastern and the western provinces army respectively. tagmata (pl.) Military units stationed in Constantinople and its outskirts during the Middle Byzantine period. The most important tagmata were that of the Scholae, the Excubitors (these originated from respective units of the Early Byzantine period and were organized into an imperial guard and a central strike force by Constantine V), the Vigilia (established by Irene the Athenian) and the Hikanatoi (established by Nicephorus I). Πηγές Joseph Genesios, Reins of emperors, ed. A. Lesmüller Werner I. Thurn, Iosephi Genesii Regum Libri Quattuor (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 14, Berlin New York 1978), pp Symeon Logothete, Chronikon, ed. S. Wahlgren, Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44/1, Berlin New York 2006), p Theophanes Continuatus, Chronographia, ed. Ι. Bekker, Theophanes Continuatus, Ioannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus. Corpus scriptorum historiae Byzantinae (Bonn 1838), p John Skylitzes, Synopsis Historiarum, ed. I. Thurn, Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Παραθέματα Reference to the campaign of 837 in the historical work of Joseph Genesios Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 4/6

5 Τοῦ δὲ ἀλλαγίου περατωθέντος καὶ τῆς ἀναμεταξὺ Ρωμαίων τε καὶ Ἀγαρηνῶν εἰρήνης διαλυθείσης, ὁ βασιλεὺς γενναΐζειν κατὰ πολεμίων πολλὴν ἐπεποίητο μέριμναν, ὡς μηδ ὅλως ἐλάττων γενέσθαι τῆς πατρικῆς γενναιότητος καὶ κατὰ τῶν Ἰσμαηλιτῶν τὴν χώραν σὺν πλήθει πολλῷ προχωρεῖ καὶ αιχμαλωσίαν παντοδαπῆ παρυφίστησιν, ὡς καὶ παρεμβαθῦναι τοῖς ἐσωτέροις μέρεσι ταύτης αὐτῇ τε τῇ πατρίδι προσεμπελάσαι τοῦ τότε κρατοῦντος ἀμεραμνουνῆ, ἥτις Σωζόπετρα προσηγόρευται, καὶ ταύτην πολιορκῆσαι πρὸς ὕβριν αὐτοῦ. ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν οὐ κατὰ σκοπόν πως λυσιτελῆ διαβέβηκεν, τοσοῦτον ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ὠφελείας ἐπισυμβάν, ἡ μεγίστη ἀνθρώπων ἀπώλεια. Joseph Genesios, Reigns of Emperors, ed. A. Lesmüller Werner I. Thurn, Iosephi Genesii Regum Libri Quattuor (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 14, Berlin New York 1978), pp The Byzantine chronographer Symeon Logothete describes the campaign of 837 τούτοις ἐπαρθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐξῆλθε μετὰ Μανουὴλ καὶ τῆς συγκλήτου καὶ τοῦ στρατοῦ παντὸς κατὰ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν καὶ εὐπετῶς τήν τε Ζάπετρον καὶ τὸ Σαμοσάτον, πλούτῳ κομῶν καὶ δυνάμει τότε διὰ τὸ τὸν ἀμερμουμνῆ ἐκεῖθεν εἶναι, παραλαβὼν ἐπανῄει, τῇ νίκῃ καὶ τοῖς λαφύροις γαυρούμενος. καὶ ἐλθὼν μέχρι τοῦ Βρύα προσέταξεν οἰκοδομῆσαι παλάτιον καὶ παραδείσους φυτεῦσαι καὶ ὕδατα ἀγαγεῖν, ἃ καὶ γέγονεν. ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀφικόμενος εἰς τὴν πόλιν τὰ λάφυρα ἐθριάμβευσεν, ἱππικὸν ποιήσας καὶ τὸ πρῶτον βάιον παίξας, ἅρματι λευκῷ μὲν ἐποχησάμενος, χρώματι δὲ τῷ βενέτῳ ἀμφιασάμενος. καὶ νικήσας ἐστεφανώθη, τῶν δήμων ἐπιβοώντων καλῶς ἦλθες, ἀσύγκριτε φακτωνάρη. Symeon Logothete, Chronikon, ed. S. Wahlgren, Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44/1, Berlin New York 2006), p The campaign of 837 in a subsequent chronographical work Ἔξεισι δὲ πάλιν ὁ Θεόφιλος κατὰ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν ἐμβριθέστερος, τῆς πατρικῆς ἡττᾶσθαι τόλμης ἀνέραστος ὤν. ὅθεν καὶ πορρωτέρω πρόεισι τῆς Συρίας, ὁμοῦ μὲν κείρων τὴν γῆν καὶ πορθῶν, ὁμοῦ δὲ λαφυραγωγῶν αὐτὴν καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζων, καὶ πόλεις παραλαμβάνων ἄλλας τε δύο καὶ μέχρις ἐδάφους καταστρεφόμενος, καὶ αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν Σωζόπετραν ἐκπολιορκήσας πατρίδα τυγχάνουσαν τοῦ ἀμεραμνουνῆ, ὑπὲρ ἧς ἐγένετο ἐκεῖθεν διὰ γραμμάτων προτρέψασθαι ἀναχωρεῖν τὸν Θεόφιλον ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος αὐτοῦ, κἂν οὐκ εἶχέ πως τὸν ἀκούοντα. Theophanes Continuatus, Chronographia, ed. I. Bekker, Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), p The Byzantine historian John Skylitzes describes the campaign of 837. Τῷ δ ἐπιόντι ἐνιαυτῷ τῆς ἐαρινῆς ἐπιστάσης ὥρας ἔξεισι κατὰ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν ὁ Θεόφιλος μετὰ δυνάμεως καὶ χειρὸς πολλῆς. πρόεισί τε πορρωτέρω τῆς Συρίας, κείρων ὁμοῦ τὴν γῆν καὶ πορθῶν καὶ πᾶν τὸ προστυχὸν ληϊζόμενος. πόλεις τε γὰρ πολέμου νόμῳ κατέσχε δύο καὶ ἠνδραποδίσατο, καὶ αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν λεγομένην Σωζόπετραν ἐξεπολιόρκησε, πατρίδα τυγχάνουσαν τοῦ ἀμερμουμνῆ, ὑπὲρ ἧς πολλὰ κατεδεήθη διὰ γραμμάτων οὗτος, φείσασθαι ἐκλιπαρήσας τῆς ἑαυτοῦ πατρίδος, εἰ καὶ μὴ προσέσχε τοῖς γραφομένοις ὁ βασιλεύς. John Skylitzes, Synopsis Historiarum, ed. I. Thurn, Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Χρονολόγιο spring 837: Contact of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos with the Persian rebel Bābak March-April 837: Campaign of Theophilos against the Arabs. Conquest of Sozopetra and Arsamosata; also the suburbs of Melitene are pillaged September 837: Bābakʹs revolution is suppressed Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 5/6

6 January 838: Arabs kill Bābak Δημιουργήθηκε στις 13/10/2017 Σελίδα 6/6