Photios (Greek: Φώτιος, fl. c. 872/3) was a Byzantine renegade and convert to Islam who served the Emirate of Crete as a naval commander in the 870s.[1]
Photios appears briefly in the narrative of the 10th-century chronicler Theophanes Continuatus, whose work was later reused almost without change by the 11th-century historian John Skylitzes.[1][2] The Byzantine chroniclers call Photios "a warlike and energetic fellow", and report that he served the Arab emir of Crete, Shu'ayb ("Saet" in Greek). In c. 872 or 873, Shu'ayb sent Photios to command a major naval raiding expedition against the Byzantine Empire, ruled at the time by Emperor Basil I the Macedonian (r. 867–886). With over 50 vessels, Photios devastated the shores of the Aegean Sea, reaching even as far as Prokonnesos, in the vicinity of Constantinople— the first time since the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople in 717–718 that a Muslim fleet had come so close to the Byzantine capital[3]—before it was met and heavily defeated at the battle of Kardia by the Byzantine admiral Niketas Ooryphas.[1][4]
Photios with the remnants of his fleet survived to return to Crete, and some time shortly after—the exact date is unknown, with some scholars placing it as late as 879—launched another expedition, raiding the shores of western Greece. Ooryphas once again sailed to confront him, and managed to surprise and destroy the Cretan fleet at the Gulf of Corinth. Photios was killed, and many of the Saracens were captured and tortured to death.[1][5]
Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Pratsch, Thomas; Zielke, Beate (2013). Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Nach Vorarbeiten F. Winkelmanns erstellt (in German). Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter.
Wortley, John, ed. (2010). John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811–1057. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-76705-7.
April 10, 2024
photios, emirate, crete, photios, greek, Φώτιος, byzantine, renegade, convert, islam, served, emirate, crete, naval, commander, 870s, photios, appears, briefly, narrative, 10th, century, chronicler, theophanes, continuatus, whose, work, later, reused, almost, . Photios Greek Fwtios fl c 872 3 was a Byzantine renegade and convert to Islam who served the Emirate of Crete as a naval commander in the 870s 1 Photios appears briefly in the narrative of the 10th century chronicler Theophanes Continuatus whose work was later reused almost without change by the 11th century historian John Skylitzes 1 2 The Byzantine chroniclers call Photios a warlike and energetic fellow and report that he served the Arab emir of Crete Shu ayb Saet in Greek In c 872 or 873 Shu ayb sent Photios to command a major naval raiding expedition against the Byzantine Empire ruled at the time by Emperor Basil I the Macedonian r 867 886 With over 50 vessels Photios devastated the shores of the Aegean Sea reaching even as far as Prokonnesos in the vicinity of Constantinople the first time since the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople in 717 718 that a Muslim fleet had come so close to the Byzantine capital 3 before it was met and heavily defeated at the battle of Kardia by the Byzantine admiral Niketas Ooryphas 1 4 Photios with the remnants of his fleet survived to return to Crete and some time shortly after the exact date is unknown with some scholars placing it as late as 879 launched another expedition raiding the shores of western Greece Ooryphas once again sailed to confront him and managed to surprise and destroy the Cretan fleet at the Gulf of Corinth Photios was killed and many of the Saracens were captured and tortured to death 1 5 References edit a b c d PmbZ Photios 26671 Wortley 2010 p xix Canard 1971 p 1083 Wortley 2010 pp 147 148 Wortley 2010 p 148 Sources editCanard M 1971 Iḳriṭis h In Lewis B Menage V L Pellat Ch amp Schacht J eds The Encyclopaedia of Islam Second Edition Volume III H Iram Leiden E J Brill pp 1082 1086 OCLC 495469525 Lilie Ralph Johannes Ludwig Claudia Pratsch Thomas Zielke Beate 2013 Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online Berlin Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften Nach Vorarbeiten F Winkelmanns erstellt in German Berlin and Boston De Gruyter Wortley John ed 2010 John Skylitzes A Synopsis of Byzantine History 811 1057 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 76705 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Photios Emirate of Crete amp oldid 1112618966, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
