Περίληψη : In the summer of 863 Amr al-aqta, emir of Melitene, campaigned against the Byzantine territories of Asia Minor. The Arabs were initially victorious defeating the forces of emperor Michael III and reaching the coasts of the Pontus. On 3rd September 863 Amr al-aqta was surrounded at the site of Poson, near the river Lalakaon by the Byzantine troops under Petronas, the strategos (general) of the theme of Thrakesion; his army was decimated and he was killed. Χρονολόγηση summer - autumn 863 Γεωγραφικός Εντοπισμός NE Asia Minor 1. Historical background When the young emperor Michael III (842-867) was freed from the patronage of his mother Theodora and assumed power alone (856), the change coincided with the intensification of the struggle against the Arabs, a perpetual aim of which was to cause the adversary to weaken and thus to secure control over as many regions of Asia Minor as possible. The beginning of this new period of Byzantine attacks is marked by the victorious campaign of Petronas, uncle of the emperor and strategos of the theme of Thrakesion, in the summer of 856 against the Arabs and their allies, the Paulicians. The formers, due to the persecutions they suffered in the Byzantium, after the final restoration of the icons (March 843) and the strict orthodox policy imposed, were forced to migrate to the region of Upper Euphrates, 1 in order to ask for the protection of Amr al-aqta, emir of Melitene. The former offered them the area north of Melitene, where they settled, offering in exchange their military services to the Arabs. Although Petronas campaign had a positive impact on the moral of the Byzantines, it brought no substantial gains to the empire, since the Arabs continued raiding the Byzantine territories of Asia Minor. Among these military operations, in 863 Amr al-aqta decided to make a new campaign against the Byzantines. 2. The campaign of Amr al-aqta in Asia Minor 2.1. First conflict between the Arabs and the Byzantines In the summer of 863 Amr al-aqta, emir of Melitene, united his forces with Ja far, probably the emir of Tarsus at that time, 2 in order to make a common campaign against the Byzantine empire. The great Arab army, 3 which must have also incorporated Paulicians troops under their leader Karbeas, 4 left Tarsus and through the Gates of Cilicia passed to Cappadocia, where it made camp in a site called al-matāmīr by the Arab sources, near Tyana. 5 From there the emir of Melitene decided to move independently. 6 Thus, he moved with his soldiers towards the north, to an area Arab sources call Marj al-usquf (The Bishop s Meadow), near Malakopea, north of Nazianzos, where he met the Byzantine troops under Michael III. In the following battle, the Byzantines destroyed a large part of the Arab army; they also suffered, however, grave losses, which forced them to retreat without managing to cut the advance of the Arabs. Next, Amr al-aqta moved even more to the north and, pillaging the theme of Armeniakon, reached the coasts of the Black Sea, where he occupied the important harbour of Amissos (present-day Samsun, Turkey). 2.2. Defeat and death of Amr al-aqta Right after Michael III learned of the capture of Amissos, he gathered a large military force 7 and appointed the strategos of the theme of Thrakesion Petronas in command, 8 setting as his immediate goal to drive the Arabs out of the territory of the empire. While Amr al-aqta was still in Amissos, the news of the mobilization of the Byzantines against him reached him. Notwithstanding the warnings of his officers to avoid conflict, 9 Amr al-aqta moved towards the west, in order to face the troops of Petronas. On 3rd Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 1/6
September 863, at the borders of the themes of Armeniakon and Paphlagonia, and more specifically at the site of Poson, near the river Lalakaon, 10 the Arab army suffered a total defeat by the Byzantines and was almost totally annihilated. Amr himself was killed too, whereas the leader of the Paulicians Karbeas most probably lost his life at the battle. 11 3. Consequences The campaign of Amr al-aqta not only did it not manage to succeed its goal, which was the weakening of the Byzantine dominance over Asia Minor, but led to a crashing defeat, resulting in a decimation of the Arab army and the death of the emir himself. Above any obvious short-term consequences such a great defeat had, negative for the moral and the war power of the Arabs, positive for the Byzantines, from which it was considered a revenge for the fall of Amorion (this can be seen in the appearance of this event in the Byzantine hagiological texts, the epic poetry and the songs of the demoi of Constantinople), is at the same time an important turn in the history of the fight between the Arabs and the Byzantines: whereas since that time the effort of the Byzantines was limited initially to a struggle of survival and then to a defensive war against the Arabs, from now on the empire passes into the counterattack, which progressively intensifies, it is peaked in the second half of the 10th century, eventually assuring the Byzantine dominance over the area of Asia Minor. Already right after their victory at Lalakaon the Byzantines advanced even more to the east, over Euphrates and attacked Armenia and the Arab emir Alī ibn Yahya. 12 In a more personal level, Petronas returned victorious to Constantinople and, after organizing an illustrious triumph, 13 was honoured for his success by the emperor Michael III with the title of the magistros. 14 1. Hild, F. Restle, M., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 2: Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Wien 1981), p. 79. 2. See Huxley, G., The Emperor Michael III and the Battle of Bishopʹs Meadow (A.D. 863), Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 16 (1975), p. 448, and Belke, K., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 9: Paphlagonien und Honorias (Wien 1996), p. 77, who accept the earlier view of Bury, J. B., A History of the Eastern Roman Empire (London 1912), p. 283. 3. According to the Theophanes Continuatus, Χρονογραφία, ed. I. Bekker, Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), p. 179, 14 and Josef Genesios, Βασιλείαι, ed. A. Lesmüller Werner I. Thurn, Iosephi Genesii Regum Libri Quattuor (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 14, Berlin New York 1978), p. 67, 67, the military force of the emir of Melitene numbered 40,000 men. 4. On Karbeas, who was probably killed in the same battle with emir Amr al Acta, see n. 11. 5. Huxley, G., The Emperor Michael III and the Battle of Bishopʹs Meadow (A.D. 863), Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 16 (1975), p. 448. 6. According to Treadgold, W. T., A History of the Byzantine State and Society (Stanford 1997), p. 452, the caliph al Musta in was the one who ordered a raid against Cappadocia and after the main body of the Arab army left the Byzantine territory then it was Amr who continued the raid with his own troops. 7. According to the Arab historian al Tabari, Barth, J. et al. (ed.), Taʹrikh al Rusul wa l Muluk (Leiden 1879 1901), it numbered 50,000 men. 8. According to the Arab historian al Tabari, emperor Michael III himself was in charge of this campaign. Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La dynastie d Amorium (820 867) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1968), p. 253, believes such a version might correspond to the real course of events, but is ignored by the Byzantine historians and chroniclers due to the negative light under which they portray Michael III. 9. Huxley, G., The Emperor Michael III and the Battle of Bishopʹs Meadow (A.D. 863), Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 16 (1975), p. 449; Belke, K., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 9: Paphlagonien und Honorias (Wien 1996), p. 77. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 2/6
10. Neither the area of Poson neither the river Lalakaon can be safely identified. Gregoire, H., Etudes sur le neuvieme siecle, Byzantion 8 (1933), p. 534 539, suggests that Lalakaon should be identified with the river Almyros, an identification which is, however, rejected by Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La dynastie d Amorium (820 867) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1968), p. 253, and Huxley, G., The Emperor Michael III and the Battle of Bishopʹs Meadow (A.D. 863), Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 16 (1975), p. 445. Most of the scholars believe that it is an area near the river Alys, either to its north, as believed by Belke, K., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 9: Paphlagonien und Honorias (Wien 1996), 77, either to its west, as believed by Χριστοφιλοπούλου Αικατερίνη, Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2: 610 867 (2Θεσσαλονίκη 1993), p. 216, either between the river and Lalakaon, its affluent, according to Jenkins, R. J. H., Byzantium: The Imperial Centuries (AD 610 1071) (London 1966), p. 162. Haldon, J. F., The Byzantine Wars (Stroud 2001), p. 84, believes that the river Lalakaon is identified with the modern Sehirmeydan? Cay?. 11. Such a possibility is considered credible by Vasiliev, A. A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La dynastie d Amorium (820 867) (Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Bruxelles 1968), p. 256, since 863 is reported as the year of Karbeas death. See also Jenkins, R. J. H., Byzantium: The Imperial Centuries (AD 610 1071) (London 1966), p. 162, Hild, F. Restle, M., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 2: Kappadokien (Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos) (Wien 1981), p. 80, and Hild, F. Hellenkemper, H., Tabula Imperii Byzantini 5: Kilikien und Isaurien (Wien 1990), p. 51. Treadgold, W. T., A History of the Byzantine State and Society (Stanford 1997), p. 452, considers equally plausible the possibility that he was killed right after the battle, in the battle between the Byzantines and the emir Ali ibn Yahya. On the other hand, Lemerle, P., L histoire des Pauliciens d Asie Mineure d apres les sources grecques, Travaux et Memoires 5 (1973), p. 92 96, suggests that neither Karbeas, neither the Paulicians took part in the campaign of the emir of Melitene in 863 and he believes that, if indeed the leader of the Paulicians died in this year, then his death must have been caused by natural causes. 12. During the battle, which took part between the 18th and the 16th November 863, the Arab army was defeated, whereas Ali himself was also killed. 13. If we accept the view of the Arab historian al Tabari (see n. 8), then along with Petronas the emperor Michael III came back. 14. Χριστοφιλοπούλου Αικατερίνη, Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2: 610 867 ( 2 Θεσσαλονίκη 1993), p. 217, reports that Petronas was appointed domestikos. Βιβλιογραφία : Treadgold W.T., A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford 1997 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.) Belke K., Mersich N., Paphlagonien und Honorias, Wien 1996, Tabula Imperii Byzantini 9 Bury J.B., Α History of the Eastern Roman Empire from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil I (A.D. 802-867), London 1912 Hild F., Hellenkemper H., Kilikien und Isaurien, Wien 1990, Tabula Imperii Byzantini 5 Hild F., Restle M., Kappadokien. Kappadokia, Charsianon, Sebasteia und Lykandos, Wien 1981, TIB 2 Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2:1, Θεσσαλονίκη 1993 Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 3/6
Lemerle P., "L histoire des Pauliciens d Asie Mineure d après les sources grecques", Travaux et Mémoires, 5, 1973, 1-144 Vasiliev A.A., Byzance et les Arabes 1: La dynastie d Amorium (820-867), Bruxelles 1968, Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 1, Grégoire, H. Canard, M. (trans.) Άμαντος Κ., Ιστορία του βυζαντινού κράτους 1, Αθήνα 1963 Jenkins R.J.H., Byzantium: The Imperial Centuries (AD 610-1071), London 1966 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 Βλυσίδου Β., Λουγγής Τ., Λαμπάκης Σ., Σαββίδης Α., Κουντούρα-Γαλάκη Ε., Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Έρευνες πάνω στη γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Mικράς Aσίας (7ος-11ος αι.), Αθήνα 1998, Eρευνητική Bιβλιοθήκη 1 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 Al-Tabari, Ta'rikh al-rusul wa-l-muluk, Barth, J. et al. (eds), Leiden 1879-1901 Huxley G., "The Emperor Michael III and the Battle of Bishop's Meadow (A.D. 863)", Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, 16, 1975, 443-450 Grégoire H., "Études sur le neuvième siècle", Byzantion, 8, 1933, 515-550 Δικτυογραφία : The battle of Mardj al-uskuf http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/pdfs/huxley.pdf Γλωσσάριo : emir (from Arabic amir) Emir meaning "commander" or "general", later also "prince". Also a high title of nobility or office in some Turkic historical states. magistros Higher office that Philotheos in his Kletorologion places above the anthypatos. This title lost its importance from the 10th century and gradually disappeared - most probably in the middle of the 12th century. strategos ("general") During the Roman period his duties were mainly political. Οffice of the Byzantine state s provincial administration. At first the title was given to the military and political administrator of the themes, namely of the big geographic and administrative unities of the Byzantine empire. Gradually the title Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 4/6
lost its power and, already in the 11th century, strategoi were turned to simple commanders of military units, responsible for the defence of a region. triumph The organising of festivities in Constantinople in order to celebrate the return of the emperor (or a military commander) from a victorious expedition. It included a military parade, lead by the emperor and his generals, followed by prisoners and plunder brought back from occupied territories, as well as games at the Hippodrome. The people of the capital (mainly the demes) usually participated in overwhelming numbers and with great enthusiasm. Πηγές S. Wahlgren (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historaie Byzantinae 44/1, Berlin New York 2006), 243.224 244.231. I. Thurn (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), 99.17 101.64. Παραθέματα The chronicler Symeon Magistros mentions the campaign of 863 τὸν δὲ Ἄμερ πάλιν ἐξελθόντα κατὰ Ρωμανίας στρατηλάτης ὢν τῆς ἀνατολῆς Πετρωνᾶς καὶ Νάσαρ τῶν Βουκελλαρίων λοχήσαντες τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς ὑποστροφῆς αὐτοῦ συναντῶσιν αὐτῷ εἰς τὸν Λαλακάωνα καὶ συμβολῆς γενομένης τρέπουσιν Ἄμερ, καὶ φυγῇ χρησάμενον καταδιώκει αυτόν τις τῶν κομήτων καὶ τούτου τὴν κεφαλὴν ἄρας ἤγαγε Πετρωνᾷ στρατηλάτῃ. εἰσελθόντες δὲ οἱ στρατηγοὶ μετὰ ἐπινικίων ἐθριάμβευσαν ταῦτα ἐν τῷ ἱππικῷ, καὶ ἔκτοτε ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ διὰ τὴν τοῦ Ἄμερ σφαγήν. S. Wahlgren (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historaie Byzantinae 44/1, Berlin New York 2006), 243.224 244.231. The campaign of 863 in the work of John Skylitzes Δεύτερος πάλιν μετὰ τὸν πόλεμον τοῦτον διῆλθεν ἐνιαυτός, καὶ πάλιν ὁ Ἄμερ μετὰ τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάδων ἐκστρατεύσας εἰσβολὴν ἐποιήσατο κατὰ Ρωμαίων, ὁμοῦ μὲν καὶ τὸν Ἀρμενιακόν, ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ τὴν πρὸς θάλασσαν ἐκπορθῶν καὶ δῃούμενος, ὅτε φασὶν αὐτὸν παραπλησίως τῷ Ξέρξῃ πάθος παθεῖν, μάστιξι κελεύσαντα παίειν τὴν θάλασσαν, ὅτι μὴ περαιτέρω προήκατο τοῦτον χωρεῖν. ἐφ οἷς ἀσχάλλων ὁ Μιχαὴλ καὶ πάλιν αὐτὸς ἀντιστρατεῦσαι πρὸς αὐτὸν μὴ τολμῶν τὸν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ μητρὸς ἀδελφὸν Πετρωνᾶν, τῶν Θρᾳκησίων διέποντα τὴν ἀρχήν, τὰς Ρωμαϊκὰς δυνάμεις ἐκέλευσε λαβεῖν καὶ παντὶ σθένει χωρεῖν κατ αὐτοῦ. ἔτυχε δ οὗτος τότε διατρίβων κατὰ τὴν Ἔφεσον. δεξάμενος δὲ τὰ γράμματα εἰς ἀγωνίαν ἐμπίπτει μεγίστην. εὐθὺς οὖν ἐξιππασάμενος ἄπεισιν ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Λάτρει πρὸς τὸν ἐκεῖσε ἀσκούμενον μοναχὸν Ἰωάννην, ἐπ ἀρετῇ ὄντα τῷ τότε διαβόητον, καὶ περὶ τοῦ πράγματος ἐπυνθάνετο. ὁ δὲ μηδαμῶς ἐμβραδύνας πρὸς τὴν ἐρώτησιν «ἄπιθι, τέκνον,» ἔφη, «κατὰ τῶν Σαρακηνῶν. θεὸν γὰρ ἕξεις προπορευόμενον.» τούτου καθοπλισθεὶς ταῖς εὐχαῖς ἄπεισι κατὰ τὸν λεγόμενον Λαλακάωνα τόπον, καὶ ἔν τινι τόπῳ Γυρὴν ἐγχωρίως ὀνομαζομένῳ. λόχους τε οὖν πανταχόθεν ἐπέστησε καὶ πρὸς συμπλοκὴν ἐξεκαλεῖτο τὸν Ἄμερ. πάντοθεν οὖν ὡς θηρίον περικλεισθεὶς ὁ Ἄμερ καὶ περὶ τοῦ τέλους ἀγωνιῶν, τῶν αἰχμαλώτων τινὰ Ρωμαίων προσκαλεσάμενος ἐπυνθάνετο τήν τε τῆς χώρας προσωνυμίαν καὶ τοῦ τόπου, ἐν ᾧ ἔτυχεν ἐστρατοπεδευκώς, καὶ τοῦ παραρρέοντος ποταμοῦ. ὡς δὲ τὴν μὲν χώραν Λαλακάωνα ἤκουσε λέγεσθαι, τὸν δὲ τόπον Πτώσοντα καὶ Γύρην τὸν ποταμόν, εὐθὺς κακὸς οἰωνὸς ἑαυτῷ γενόμενος ἐξεφοίβασε λαοῦ τε κάκωσιν σημαίνειν καὶ πτῶσιν τὰ ὀνόματα, καὶ ὡς ἀνάγκη γυρισθῆναι ἡμᾶς ὑπὸ τῶν Ρωμαίων. «ἀλλ ὅμως μὴ ἀποκνητέον», φησίν, «ἀλλὰ διεγερτέον καὶ πρὸς τὸν αὔριον γενησόμενον πόλεμον ἀνδριστέον,» ἔφη πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας. ἡμέρας δὲ ἄρτι διαλαμπούσης, ἐπεὶ πάντοθεν συγκλεισθεὶς ἔγνω, καὶ ἀνεπιχείρητος ἦν ἡ ἔξοδος, συμφέρον ἔκρινε κατ ἐκεῖνο τὸ μέρος χωρεῖν, ὅπου τὸν Πετρωνᾶν εἶδε φυλάττοντα. καὶ δὴ κρότῳ καὶ βοῇ τοῖς πολεμίοις προσέρραξεν. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀνηνύτοις ἔγνω ἐπιχειρῶν, μικρὸν συσταλεὶς αὖθις σὺν ῥύμῃ ἐπεβάρει μετὰ δυνάμεως, ἀπόδρασιν ἑαυτῷ μηχανώμενος. πάλιν δὲ ἀποτυχὼν καὶ τρὶς τοῦτον ἐπιχειρήσας τὸν τρόπον εἰς ἀμηχανίαν ἐνέπιπτεν. ὡς δὲ πάντοθεν ἀναφανέντας καὶ ἐκπηδῶντας κατενόησε τοὺς Ρωμαίους ἔκ τε μεσημβρίας καὶ τῶν προσαρκτίων μερῶν, καὶ ἄφυκτα κατενόησεν εἶναι τὰ περὶ αυτόν, τότε δὴ τὴν σωτηρίαν ἀπογνοὺς ἐμπίπτει τοῖς κατὰ μέτωπον ἀθρόον μετὰ σφοδρᾶς προσβολῆς. ἔνθα καιρίαν πληγεὶς αὐτός τε πίπτει, καὶ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ διασῴζεται οὐδὲ εἷς. πυθόμενος δὲ τὴν ἧτταν ὁ τούτου υἱὸς εἰς προνομὴν μετὰ μέρους ἀποσταλεὶς τοῦ στρατοῦ εὐθὺς πρὸς Μελιτηνὴν ἀπεδίδρασκεν. ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦτον ὁ τοῦ Χαρσιανοῦ κλεισουράρχης καταδιώξας χειροῦται μετὰ τοῦ στρατεύματος καὶ τῷ στρατηγῷ δίδωσι Πετρωνᾷ. ὁ δὲ Πετρωνᾶς τοιοῦτον κατὰ τοῦ Ἄμερ στήσας τρόπαιον τὴν βασιλίδα Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 5/6
καταλαμβάνει, ἐπαγόμενος καὶ τὸν τὴν νίκην αὐτῷ προθεσπίσαντα μοναχόν, τήν τε ἀρετὴν ἐκθειάζων αὐτοῦ καὶ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ Βάρδαν τὸν οἰκεῖον ἀδελφὸν ἐξυμνῶν τοῦτον καὶ μεγαλύνων. τιμᾶται γοῦν δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν, μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ καὶ ἀπεβίω. I. Thurn (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), 99.17 101.64. Χρονολόγιο summer 863: The emir of Melitene launches his campaign on Byzantine territory in Asia Minor. Defeat of the Byzantines in the battle of Marz al Uskuf. The Arabs seize Amisos September 3, 863: Battle at Lalakaon River (or Poson), between the emir of Melitene and the Byzantine troops of Petronas. The Arabs are defeated between October 18 and november 16, 863: Defeat and death of emir Arab emir Alī ibn Yahya in Armenia Δημιουργήθηκε στις 10/7/2017 Σελίδα 6/6