The Battle of Marash was fought in 953 near Marash (modern Kahramanmaraş) between the forces of the Byzantine Empire under the Domestic of the SchoolsBardas Phokas the Elder, and of the HamdanidEmir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla, the Byzantines' most intrepid enemy during the mid-10th century. Despite being outnumbered, the Arabs defeated the Byzantines who broke and fled. Bardas Phokas himself barely escaped through the intervention of his attendants, and suffered a serious wound on his face, while his youngest son and governor of Seleucia, Constantine Phokas, was captured and held a prisoner in Aleppo until his death of an illness some time later. This debacle, coupled with defeats in 954 and again in 955, led to Bardas Phokas' dismissal as Domestic of the Schools, and his replacement by his eldest son, Nikephoros Phokas (later emperor in 963–969).
In the period from 945 to 967, the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo, Sayf al-Dawla, was the Byzantines' most persistent opponent on their eastern frontier, by virtue of his control over most of the Byzantine–Muslim borderlands (Thughur) and his commitment to jihad.[1] After his establishment of a large domain centred on Aleppo in 945, the Hamdanid prince began confronting the Byzantines on an annual basis.[2] Despite the numerical advantage enjoyed by the Byzantines,[3] the Hamdanid's emergence blunted a Byzantine offensive that had been unfolding since the mid-920s and had already resulted in the fall of Malatya (934), Arsamosata (940), and Qaliqala (in 949).[4]
Sayf al-Dawla's main opponent during the first decade of continuous conflict with the Byzantines was the Domestic of the Schools (commander-in-chief) Bardas Phokas, who had been appointed to the post in 945.[5] Phokas was the personal choice of Emperor Constantine VII, who needed a reliable ally in this critical post. An experienced soldier, Phokas was by now well into his sixties, and not up to the task entrusted to him: even sources favourably disposed to the Phokades commented on Bardas that although a good general under someone else's command, he was unable to adequately fulfil the role of commander-in-chief.[6] Sayf al-Dawla, on the other hand, has come down to us—mainly through the work of his court poets—as the archetype of Arab chivalry and a great warrior, but he was greatly hampered by lack of men and money, by rebellions in his domains, and by lack of support from the rest of the Muslim world.[7]
Campaign of 953
In early 953, Sayf al-Dawla launched what was perhaps his most memorable campaign. From Aleppo he marched to Harran and Duluk, crossed the Anti-Taurus Mountains over the pass of Darb al-Qulla (modern Erkenek) and marched north into Byzantine territory. He captured the fortress of Arqa, and ravaged the surroundings of Malatya. From there he essayed to cross the mountains and return to Syria, but found the pass in front of him blocked by Bardas' youngest son, Constantine Phokas. The Muslims tried to break through the Byzantine position, but their attacks were repulsed with many casualties on both sides.[8] Unable to return to Syria over the mountains, Sayf al-Dawla resolved to bypass the Byzantine forces holding the passes, and turned his army north. After marching past Malatya, ravaging the countryside once more, he crossed the Euphrates into Anzitene, which his troops also raided extensively, and re-entered the Muslim-held territory of Diyar Bakr. There, he was informed that in the meantime, the Byzantines under Bardas Phokas had invaded northern Syria and raided as far as Antioch. At once he turned his army south and west. Riding at great speed, he re-crossed the Euphrates at Samosata and arrived once more at Duluk, where he received news that the Byzantines were already on their march home.[9]
According to the reports of his panegyrists, Sayf al-Dawla only had 600 riders to face the much larger Byzantine army. The Arabs caught up with the Byzantines at Gayhan near Marash, and scored a great victory. No details are known of the fight, but the Byzantines suffered many casualties, including the patrikios Leo Maleinos. Bardas Phokas himself was wounded and was forced to hide in a basement to escape capture, while Constantine Phokas was taken captive with several other unnamed Byzantine leaders to Aleppo. Sayf al-Dawla also recovered the booty taken by the Byzantines and liberated their Muslim prisoners.[10] Constantine was held captive at Aleppo for some time, but died in captivity as a result of an illness, although various authors, both Arabs and Byzantines, have suggested that he was poisoned. In retaliation, Bardas Phokas is said to have ordered the execution of many Muslim prisoners, including some of Sayf al-Dawla's relatives.[11]
Kennedy, Hugh N. (2004). The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates: The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century (Second ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Ltd. ISBN0-582-40525-4.
Treadgold, Warren (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN0-8047-2630-2.
Vasiliev, A.A. (1968). Byzance et les Arabes, Tome II, 1ére partie: Les relations politiques de Byzance et des Arabes à L'époque de la dynastie macédonienne (867–959) (in French). French ed.: Henri Grégoire, Marius Canard. Brussels: Éditions de l'Institut de Philologie et d'Histoire Orientales.
Whittow, Mark (1996). The Making of Byzantium, 600–1025. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN978-0-520-20496-6.
January 12, 2023
battle, marash, other, conflicts, marash, battle, marash, disambiguation, battle, marash, fought, near, marash, modern, kahramanmaraş, between, forces, byzantine, empire, under, domestic, schools, bardas, phokas, elder, hamdanid, emir, aleppo, sayf, dawla, byz. For other conflicts at Marash see Battle of Marash disambiguation The Battle of Marash was fought in 953 near Marash modern Kahramanmaras between the forces of the Byzantine Empire under the Domestic of the Schools Bardas Phokas the Elder and of the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo Sayf al Dawla the Byzantines most intrepid enemy during the mid 10th century Despite being outnumbered the Arabs defeated the Byzantines who broke and fled Bardas Phokas himself barely escaped through the intervention of his attendants and suffered a serious wound on his face while his youngest son and governor of Seleucia Constantine Phokas was captured and held a prisoner in Aleppo until his death of an illness some time later This debacle coupled with defeats in 954 and again in 955 led to Bardas Phokas dismissal as Domestic of the Schools and his replacement by his eldest son Nikephoros Phokas later emperor in 963 969 Battle of MarashPart of the Arab Byzantine WarsMap of the Arab Byzantine frontier zoneDate953LocationNear Marash37 35 00 N 36 56 00 E 37 5833 N 36 9333 E 37 5833 36 9333 Coordinates 37 35 00 N 36 56 00 E 37 5833 N 36 9333 E 37 5833 36 9333ResultHamdani s victoryBelligerentsByzantine EmpireHamdanid Emirate of AleppoCommanders and leadersBardas Phokas the Elder WIA Sayf al DawlaStrengthUnknown but considerably larger than the Hamdanid force600 cavalry Contents 1 Background 2 Campaign of 953 3 References 4 SourcesBackground EditIn the period from 945 to 967 the Hamdanid Emir of Aleppo Sayf al Dawla was the Byzantines most persistent opponent on their eastern frontier by virtue of his control over most of the Byzantine Muslim borderlands Thughur and his commitment to jihad 1 After his establishment of a large domain centred on Aleppo in 945 the Hamdanid prince began confronting the Byzantines on an annual basis 2 Despite the numerical advantage enjoyed by the Byzantines 3 the Hamdanid s emergence blunted a Byzantine offensive that had been unfolding since the mid 920s and had already resulted in the fall of Malatya 934 Arsamosata 940 and Qaliqala in 949 4 Sayf al Dawla s main opponent during the first decade of continuous conflict with the Byzantines was the Domestic of the Schools commander in chief Bardas Phokas who had been appointed to the post in 945 5 Phokas was the personal choice of Emperor Constantine VII who needed a reliable ally in this critical post An experienced soldier Phokas was by now well into his sixties and not up to the task entrusted to him even sources favourably disposed to the Phokades commented on Bardas that although a good general under someone else s command he was unable to adequately fulfil the role of commander in chief 6 Sayf al Dawla on the other hand has come down to us mainly through the work of his court poets as the archetype of Arab chivalry and a great warrior but he was greatly hampered by lack of men and money by rebellions in his domains and by lack of support from the rest of the Muslim world 7 Campaign of 953 EditIn early 953 Sayf al Dawla launched what was perhaps his most memorable campaign From Aleppo he marched to Harran and Duluk crossed the Anti Taurus Mountains over the pass of Darb al Qulla modern Erkenek and marched north into Byzantine territory He captured the fortress of Arqa and ravaged the surroundings of Malatya From there he essayed to cross the mountains and return to Syria but found the pass in front of him blocked by Bardas youngest son Constantine Phokas The Muslims tried to break through the Byzantine position but their attacks were repulsed with many casualties on both sides 8 Unable to return to Syria over the mountains Sayf al Dawla resolved to bypass the Byzantine forces holding the passes and turned his army north After marching past Malatya ravaging the countryside once more he crossed the Euphrates into Anzitene which his troops also raided extensively and re entered the Muslim held territory of Diyar Bakr There he was informed that in the meantime the Byzantines under Bardas Phokas had invaded northern Syria and raided as far as Antioch At once he turned his army south and west Riding at great speed he re crossed the Euphrates at Samosata and arrived once more at Duluk where he received news that the Byzantines were already on their march home 9 According to the reports of his panegyrists Sayf al Dawla only had 600 riders to face the much larger Byzantine army The Arabs caught up with the Byzantines at Gayhan near Marash and scored a great victory No details are known of the fight but the Byzantines suffered many casualties including the patrikios Leo Maleinos Bardas Phokas himself was wounded and was forced to hide in a basement to escape capture while Constantine Phokas was taken captive with several other unnamed Byzantine leaders to Aleppo Sayf al Dawla also recovered the booty taken by the Byzantines and liberated their Muslim prisoners 10 Constantine was held captive at Aleppo for some time but died in captivity as a result of an illness although various authors both Arabs and Byzantines have suggested that he was poisoned In retaliation Bardas Phokas is said to have ordered the execution of many Muslim prisoners including some of Sayf al Dawla s relatives 11 References Edit Kennedy 2004 pp 276 278 Whittow 1996 p 320 Kennedy 2004 pp 276 277 Kennedy 2004 p 277 Treadgold 1997 pp 479 484 489 Whittow 1996 pp 317 322 Treadgold 1997 p 492 Whittow 1996 p 322 Whittow 1996 pp 322 323 Kennedy 2004 pp 265 277 Whittow 1996 p 334 Vasiliev 1968 pp 348 349 Vasiliev 1968 pp 349 350 Vasiliev 1968 pp 350 351 Vasiliev 1968 pp 351 352 Sources EditKennedy Hugh N 2004 The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates The Islamic Near East from the 6th to the 11th Century Second ed Harlow UK Pearson Education Ltd ISBN 0 582 40525 4 Treadgold Warren 1997 A History of the Byzantine State and Society Stanford California Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 2630 2 Vasiliev A A 1968 Byzance et les Arabes Tome II 1ere partie Les relations politiques de Byzance et des Arabes a L epoque de la dynastie macedonienne 867 959 in French French ed Henri Gregoire Marius Canard Brussels Editions de l Institut de Philologie et d Histoire Orientales Whittow Mark 1996 The Making of Byzantium 600 1025 Berkeley University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 20496 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Marash 953 amp oldid 1107382300, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
