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This video misses a very important point, and that is that the caliphate was largely occupied on other fronts at the very same time. When the campaign on Constantinople started, large parts of the caliphates military was conquering all of the iberian peninsula and pushing into frankish lands and simultainously conquering Transoxiana and central asia.
The focus of Byzantine narratives tends to be rather narrow, concentrating on the emperor, his entourage, or his armies' exploits and reverses. They seldom see fit to mention the payment of subsidies to "barbarians" or the mounting of joint-operations on imperial territory, even when the action took place not far from the capital.
It is, for example, from non-Byzantine sources that one grasps the full impact of the Bulgars' military intervention upon the Arabs' expedition against Constantinople of 717/18, and the fact that they were acting in response to an imperial request. According to Syriac sources, the Arabs feared the Bulgars more than the Romans, and their assaults and subsequent blockade of the Arabs' camp eventually led to their withdrawal.2 Nonetheless, it seems worth making three general propositions on the subject of imperial talent-spotting.
According to Syriac sources, the Arabs feared the Bulgars more than the Romans, and their assaults and subsequent blockade of the Arabs' camp eventually led to their withdrawal.
16:04 why did you lie???
Neither Empress Irene nor Emperor Nikephoros I ever defeated Harun al-Rashid in battle. In fact, Harun held a decisive military upper hand over both rulers throughout his entire life, repeatedly forcing them into humiliating peace terms.
Here is how the conflicts with both Byzantine monarchs actually played out:
🏛️ Empress Irene: Total Submission
Empress Irene never attempted to fight Harun directly. When Harun’s forces arrived at the shores of the Bosporus in 782, Irene’s empire was internally unstable and militarily exposed.
* The Capitulation: Rather than risking an assault, Irene chose diplomacy.
* The Terms: She agreed to pay Harun an enormous annual tribute of 70,000 to 90,000 gold dinars and provided him with guides and markets to ensure his army could march back to Baghdad safely.
⚔️ Emperor Nikephoros I: Repeated Defeats
Nikephoros I actively tried to defeat Harun al-Rashid, but failed catastrophically every time. Upon seizing the throne, Nikephoros famously sent an insulting letter to Harun, breaking Irene's treaty and demanding all the tribute money back. Harun responded by launching devastating military campaigns.
The two rulers clashed in ma
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It is, for example, from non-Byzantine sources that one grasps the full impact of the Bulgars' military intervention upon the Arabs' expedition against Constantinople of 717/18, and the fact that they were acting in response to an imperial request. According to Syriac sources, the Arabs feared the Bulgars more than the Romans, and their assaults and subsequent blockade of the Arabs' camp eventually led to their withdrawal.2 Nonetheless, it seems worth making three general propositions on the subject of imperial talent-spotting.
Only missed a few cities in Dalmatia like Jadera (Zadar), Spalatum (Split) and Ragusa (Dubrovnik).
Neither Empress Irene nor Emperor Nikephoros I ever defeated Harun al-Rashid in battle. In fact, Harun held a decisive military upper hand over both rulers throughout his entire life, repeatedly forcing them into humiliating peace terms.
Here is how the conflicts with both Byzantine monarchs actually played out:
🏛️ Empress Irene: Total Submission
Empress Irene never attempted to fight Harun directly. When Harun’s forces arrived at the shores of the Bosporus in 782, Irene’s empire was internally unstable and militarily exposed.
* The Capitulation: Rather than risking an assault, Irene chose diplomacy.
* The Terms: She agreed to pay Harun an enormous annual tribute of 70,000 to 90,000 gold dinars and provided him with guides and markets to ensure his army could march back to Baghdad safely.
⚔️ Emperor Nikephoros I: Repeated Defeats
Nikephoros I actively tried to defeat Harun al-Rashid, but failed catastrophically every time. Upon seizing the throne, Nikephoros famously sent an insulting letter to Harun, breaking Irene's treaty and demanding all the tribute money back. Harun responded by launching devastating military campaigns.
The two rulers clashed in ma
Have you been listening? See if you can top the leaderboard of my quiz: app.recall.it/c/1c2edb1b-2a96-5d42-96d3-cb3d77a6c6…