The Battle of Archelais, late 13th century
~Jihad~
The Muslim jihad on Anatolia in the spring of 774 came as a shock to all. The people of Constantinople, still reveling in the great victory against the Slavs, did not expect war to come so soon. Even Konstantinos, who foresaw renewed conflict with the Arabs, was surprised by the news. Perhaps he too did not expect the Muslims to come with such haste. Michael Doukaina, a chronicler who served at court during that time, wrote that the emperor shut himself in his private chambers for an entire day before coming out and meeting with his generals.
Caliph al-Hadi in 774
The Muslim leader, Caliph al-Hadi, was a strong leader in his prime and he ruled over an empire at the time was more powerful than the Romans - it was said that the Muslims could raise over 30,000 men for war. There were those who feared that the Roman empire did not have the strength to defeat the Muslims, but Konstantinos was adamant in his belief of victory. He mobilized the armies of the entire empire - even levies from as far as Sicily was raised and transported to Anatolia. Altogether some 15,000 men were raised, and Konstantinos once again donned his armor to lead his troops in combat. Before departing, a Mass was held in the Church of the Holy Apostles where the emperor prayed to God for a swift and decisive victory.
Battle of Tyana, 774
Caliph al-Hadi was perhaps overconfident in his abilities to defeat the Romans, for he split his army into two forces. The vanguard led by Emir Za'ida al-Shaybanid, numbering nearly 6,000, marched into Tyana and put the Romans fortresses under siege, while the remaining 4,000 men commanded by the Caliph personally stayed behind in Lykandos awaiting further reinforcements and supplies.[1] In January of 775, the first Roman army commanded by Phokas of Pempton clashed with the Muslim forces at Tyana and routed the infidels. By then, the second Roman army led by the emperor had also arrived in Anatolia.
The Slaying of Caliph al-Hadi
Caliph al-Hadi, unaware that Konstantinos had arrived with a second army, swiftly moved his army to Tarsos when spring arrived, where he planned to strike Phokas as the Roman army resupplied. The emperor was overjoyed when he heard the news and he swiftly laid a trap for the Muslim Caliph. Phokas was to lead his army and attack al-Hadi head on, while the army commanded by Konstantinos was to attack from behind through Ikonion. The Muslims did not realize that they was caught in a pincer attack until it was too late, but even then they fought fiercely, for the army commanded by al-Hadi was composed of his personal guards - the veterans of conflicts in the east. But God was on the side of the Christians. In the heat of battle, Konstantinos was separated from his forces and found the al-Hadi charging towards him with a small group of guards. The Roman emperor slew several soldiers before clashing swords with the Caliph himself. The two engaged in single combat for some time but al-Hadi was ultimately defeated when his sword was knocked out of his hand. Konstantinos did not show any mercy and drove his sword into the infidel's heart.[2]
The Great Victory at Archelais, 775
[1] Honestly I think the Abbasid didn't take me seriously, they only mobilized around 10,000 soldiers for the Jihad when they had the potential to mobilize ~35,000. Maybe they would have if I haven't killed their Caliph. [2]I really lucked out there. The war would have been so much longer if he didn't die.
April 26, 775 and the Battle of Archelais became forever immortalized in the annals of history. It was no doubt Konstantinos's greatest triumph, his finest hour. The Muslims' morale was shattered upon seeing their Caliph fall and the entire Muslim force was routed. Konstantinos ordered that no quarter would be given to the infidels, and the Roman cavalry ran down every enemy soldier down to the last man. The Muslim army was completely destroyed, the best soldiers the Abbasids had to offer. Later chroniclers would write that the Archangel Michael himself came down from Heaven, bringing with him God's soldiers to aid the emperor, and that the infidel leader begged for his life. These were of course exaggerations, but few doubted God's role in the victory. With al-Hadi dead, his young son became the new Caliph, and was immediately faced with several rebellions. Beset by troubles at home, the new Caliph could ill afford to continue his war with the Romans and the Muslim jihad was called off a year after it was declared.
