History of Wars Summary 21 - Arab-Byzantine Wars 6: The Capital Besieged Once More

In the early 8th century, Arab forces, under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate, expanded their territory and intensified pressure on the Byzantine Empire. In 717, a large army led by Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik besieged Constantinople. Emperor Leo III at the time organized the capital's defenses and prepared for the assault. The Byzantines utilized their formidable walls and navy, employing Greek fire to inflict significant damage on the Arab fleet. Compounding the situation, harsh winter conditions, food shortages, and disease worsened the besiegers' plight. Attacks from Bulgarian forces also added to the Arab army's burden. In 718, the Arab forces lifted the siege and retreated, marking another failure in their plan to conquer Byzantium by capturing its capital. This battle was significant as it bought the Byzantines crucial time to hold their ground in Anatolia and the Balkans. Meanwhile, the Umayyad Caliphate also expended considerable resources on the prolonged campaign. While the successful defense of the capital didn't mean Byzantium recovered its lost territories, it was an event that thwarted a large-scale attack threatening the empire's very existence.