The Arab sieges of Constantinople: a new approach of the sources and a valuation of the results.

Postgraduate Thesis uoadl:2819043 320 Read counter

Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Βυζαντινή Ιστορία
Library of the School of Philosophy
Deposit date:
2019-03-10
Year:
2019
Author:
Kontogiannis Panagiotis-Vasileios
Supervisors info:
Κατερίνα Νικολάου, αναπληρώτρια καθηγήτρια βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, ΕΚΠΑ,
Τριανταφυλλίτσα Μανιάτη-Κοκκίνη, επίκουρη καθηγήτρια βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, ΕΚΠΑ,
Σοφία Μεργιαλή-Σαχά, αναπληρώτρια καθηγήτρια βυζαντινής Ιστορίας, ΕΚΠΑ.
Original Title:
Οι πολιορκίες της Κωνσταντινούπολης από τους Άραβες: μια νέα προσέγγιση των πηγών και αποτίμηση των αποτελεσμάτων.
Languages:
Greek
Translated title:
The Arab sieges of Constantinople: a new approach of the sources and a valuation of the results.
Summary:
The arab sieges of Constantinople were the apogee of arab aggressiveness during the 7th-8th centuries. The purpose of the Umayyad Caliphs was the dominance over the Mediterranean Sea. To that end the Byzantine empire soon became their main adversary. In the middle of decade of the 630s the Saracens began attacking the eastern byzantine provinces. Although emperor Heraclius tried to halt their advance, they soon abstract an extensive territories in the East.
The seizure of the provinces of Syria and Egypt was of a great importance for the Arabs, because in that way they were able to take advantage of the byzantine naval knowhow. The supremacy of the Byzantines in the Mediterranean Sea was gradually decaying, especially after their defeat in the naval battle of Phoenix by the Arabs (655). From that point on, the Arabs were convinced that an attack against Constantinople would lead to the destruction of the Byzantine Empire.
The first arab siege of the imperial capital took place between 674-678. According to Theophanis, whose writings constitute the main source for the development of the attack, the Arabs began the blockade of Constantinople both by sea and land. Despite of being greater in number they did not manage to occupy the city, because of their inexperience in the art of sieges and the successful byzantine defense. The naval blockade of Constantinople was not able to halt the supply lines of the defenders. At the same time the walls of the city prevented the Arabs from taking the capital. Furthermore, the use of the greek fire by the imperial navy was in favor of the Byzantines. Because of those reasons the first arab siege of Constantinople ended in failure. The defeat of the arab forces weakened the Caliphate, but this result was short-lived.
The political instability of the Empire after the fall of the Heraclean dynasty gave the Arabs the opportunity to attempt another attack against the imperial capital. The second siege of Constantinople (717-718) ended in the same way as the first. The actions of Leo III and his coalition with the Bulgars resulted in the defeat of Maslama’s forces. The combined attacks of the Byzantines and the Bulgars, as well as the severely cold winter brought about the defeat of the Arabs.
The siege of 717-718 was the last attempt of the Arabs to definitively conquer the Byzantine Empire. Then after the struggle between the Arabs and the Byzantine moved away from the center of the Empire.
Main subject category:
History
Keywords:
Byzantium, Arabs, sieges, Constantinople
Index:
No
Number of index pages:
0
Contains images:
No
Number of references:
61
Number of pages:
97
Οι πολιορκίες της Κωνσταντινούπολης από τους Άραβες μια νέα προσέγγιση των πηγών και αποτίμηση των αποτελεσμάτων..pdf (1000 KB) Open in new window