Siege of Constantinople, 717-718
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Military History, Land Acquisition and Expansion, Territory Redistribution
- Subcategories: Empires, Dynasties, Invasions, Raids, Conquests, Sieges, Cities, Urbanization, Byzantine Empire
- Curriculum: Medieval History/Middle Ages, Eastern European History, Middle Eastern History
- Geographical Location: Constantinople
- Date: August 15, 717-August 15, 718
Article abstract: Type of action: Arab expansion into Europe. Result: Byzantine victory.
Water on one side and high walls on the other protected Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. It could be taken only by blockade. Arab general Maslamah ibn ʿAbd al-Malik led an invasion of 80,000 men and 1,800 ships carrying another 80,000 infantry.
Maslamah entrenched outside Constantinople on August 15, 717, and began an attack. The outnumbered Christians, believing they were protected by Mary, mother of God, beat back the Muslims. Maslamah then sent his...
[The entire page is 372 words long]
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