Războiul arabo-bizantin din anii 717-718
The Arab-­Byzantine War of 717­-718

Summary/Abstract: After a first failed siege of Constantinople in 674-678, the Ummayad Caliphate continued to fight against the Byzantine Empire, during a period when the latter was affected by a state of anarchy which weakened its defence capability. The imminent danger of a massive Arab invasion determined emperor Anastasios II to inforce the defence and the material reserves of Constantinople in 714. The next emperor, Theodosios III, made an agreement with Bulgaria in 715. In March 717 became emperor Leo III, a capable strategos, who one year before was able to convince the Arab general Maslama that he will accept his sovereignty if he will became emperor. Maslama was gathering a large army in Syria. When he realized that it was cheated by Leo, he started the campaign in June 717, in cooperation with the navy commanded by Admiral Sulayman ibn Muad. The siege of Constantinople began on 15 July 717. The Arab camp was attacked by the Bulgarians, and many ships were destroyed by the „Greek Fire” in Bosphorus. The single chance of Maslama was to set a blockade against the city, and by this reason he prepared the army for an enduring siege. The harsh winter compromised this plan, because the Arabs remained out of resources. The support expeditions sent from Syria and Egypt failed to reach them. In these circumstances, the Arabs were those who suffered the real blockade and the famine, until August 718, when, following a final attack of the Bulgarians, Maslama accepted to retreat. The most part of the remaining fleet was destroyed by a tornado. The failure of this last Arab siege of Constantinople was caused by several reasons: the decisive role of the incendiary weapon of the Byzantines, the lack of provisions, the Bulgarian intervention, the climatic conditions.

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