The Siege of Chandax (2)

My new paper is "out in print" after undergoing thorough editing. This chapter examines the history of Chandax, the capital of the Emirate of Crete (820s-961), and its recapture by the Byzantine army led by General Nikephoros Phokas. The author seeks to align the evidence gathered from both Byzantine and Arab chronicles. Additionally, he includes details about the use of trebuchets, the establishment of military encampments, and the methods used to undermine the walls of citadels.

https://www.academia.edu/126933976/The_Siege_of_Chandax_The_Byzantine_Recovery_of_Crete_960_961

I have re-edited the opening chapter of my second book, titled "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." The paper "What If the Earth Is a Sphere" examines medieval geography and includes numerous examples and illustrations. It demonstrates that medieval scholars viewed the Earth as a spherical body at the center of a rotating universe. I plan to upload an excerpt from this paper in three weeks. Additionally, I have begun preparing a Zoom lecture about the siege of Constantinople by an Arab army in 717-718, which will be based on my article.

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

Currently, I am still gathering data on naval guns and related topics. I am reading an intriguing book titled "The Sea in History: Medieval Period," which features many compelling articles about seafaring.

The Siege of Chandax (1)

I am currently revising a chapter about the Cretan War, which involved the Byzantine army led by General Nikephoros Phokas and the Muslim forces in Crete. This conflict reached its climax during the siege of Chandax (960-961). My paper will be divided into 14 sections and will include a re-evaluation of key themes.

The first section, titled "The Outcasts," narrates the story of a group of Andalusian Muslims who were exiled from their homeland. In their search for a new home, they formed a naval detachment that succeeded in conquering Crete from the Byzantine Empire.

 In the second section, "The Byzantine Chronicles," I discuss my perspective on the primary sources for this narrative, including "The History of Leo the Deacon."

The third section, "The Emirate of Crete," explores the political situation on the eve of the invasion and examines the economic relations between the Muslim and Christian populations.

Additionally, I am revising the first 25 pages of my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East," which includes five chapters: 1. What If the Earth Is a Sphere? 2. How to Measure the Earth's Circumference? 3. How Long Does the Inhabited World Span? 4. The Trefoil of the World 5. Where Is the Heart of the World?

I am also working on the beginning of "The Enigma of the Antipodes." Unit I of this book, comprising the first three chapters, will be titled "The Three Trick Questions of Mathematical Geography."

Finally, I have continued to collect data on early naval guns in the Mediterranean to investigate their development, function, shooting range, and accuracy.

Wishing you and your families a Happy New Year! I plan to introduce new developments in my narrative next January.

The Siege of Chandax

I am re-editing a new chapter on medieval naval tactics in the Mediterranean, focusing on the final Byzantine attempt to recapture Crete from the Muslim Emirate (c. 824-961). My paper relies on both Byzantine and Arab sources to create a more balanced perspective; however, this approach also leaves some gaps in the narrative. For instance, it remains unclear what happened to the Muslim fleet, which did not participate in the defense of the island. Additionally, the accounts of the size of the East Roman fleet are often exaggerated. The Roman commander Nikephoros Phokas appears to be a solitary figure, lacking the support of senior officers. We only know the name of one officer who perished, as he disregarded his orders.

This is the chapter template: a. The Importance of Crete b. An Overview of Byzantine Chronicles c. The Emirate of Crete d. The Declaration of War e. The Voyage f. Landing g. Setting Up Camp h. The Siege i. Guerrilla Operations j. Winter k. Relations Among Muslim Allies l. The Traction Trebuchet m. The Final Assault n. The Triumph Reassessment 

On December 12, I delivered a lecture on the Vandalic War based on my article: https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum. I began the talk by addressing some misconceptions about this topic. First, it's important to clarify that the Vandal polity was a state, not merely a pirate base. While the Vandal army did conduct raids across the sea, this does not automatically categorize them as pirates. After the Roman destruction, Carthage was revitalized and regained its prominence as a major Mediterranean port. It served as the capital of a Roman province, then became the center of the Vandal kingdom, followed by a Byzantine province, until it eventually fell to the Arabs.

I have decided to make another effort to find a literary agent for my book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." Currently, I am revising the first 25 pages, which consist of five chapters. Once I complete the revisions, I will upload them to my Academia page:

https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael.

The Battle of the Gulf of Corinth

 As planned, I completed revising my paper on Niketas Ooryphas and uploaded it to my Academia page:

https://www.academia.edu/125356518/The_Battle_of_the_Gulf_of_Corinth

The Battle of the Corinthian Gulf is significant not for its naval tactics during combat but for the meticulous preparation that preceded the engagement. The victorious commander successfully transported warships overland across the isthmus connecting the Aegean Sea with the western Peloponnese. The exact method of this transport remains a mystery. However, the Byzantine admiral launched a surprise attack against the Cretan Muslims, who were unable to maneuver their ships for a defensive position. While this victory was important, it was not decisive, as Arab warships continued to dominate the Aegean, Ionian, and Adriatic sea lanes. This dominance instilled fear in coastal settlements and posed a persistent threat to the weakened provinces of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Furthermore, I have completed the draft of "The Battle of Chioggia" and left it to sit for a while. All seven articles from the series "The Intricacies of Naval Warfare" are finalized. You can also read two other updated papers:

https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

My lecture on enslaved people in the galley was a success. I was thrilled that over 1,000 participants listened to the recording, and some replied.

The English version of this article is available: 

https://www.academia.edu/121984361/_Galley_Slaves_

Based on my article, I am developing a new lecture on the Battle of Ad Decimum.

The Battle of Chioggia

 I have created a series of articles on medieval warfare tactics, collectively titled " The Intricacies of Naval Warfare." The first two papers are available on my Academia page:

https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

I have penned three additional essays, but they are not yet edited. Currently, I am revising one of them, tentatively titled "The Portage of Ships Across the Isthmus." However, I have paused writing the draft for my final study, "The Battle of Chioggia."

My latest paper, "The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople," has gained moderate traction with over 100 views. Interestingly, many readers have shown interest in older articles from my second book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East: Breaking the Ice Between the Latin West and the Far East." The total view count for this book approaches 13,000, and I have over 150 followers—not bad for an independent researcher and amateur historian!

Last Monday, I delivered a Zoom lecture on "Galley Slaves," based on my previous articles:

https://www.academia.edu/119225233/Rowing_a_scaloccio

https://www.academia.edu/121984361/_Galley_Slaves_

My audience was international; in addition to listeners from Israel, I had participants from Russia and Ukraine. During the lecture, I answered questions and elaborated on the difference between pirates and corsairs. I also provided information about the watering of crews and the average speed of galleys.

Next week, I plan to complete a new draft of my article about Niketas Ooryphas, a Byzantine admiral who transported his warships overland across the Isthmus of Corinth to confuse the enemy, the Cretan Muslims.

  

3.      

The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople (2)

I have outlined the plot of my upcoming article, which will focus on the joint attack on the Byzantine capital by the forces of the Syrian army and the caliphate fleet. The Arab siege of Constantinople lasted approximately 13 months, from July 717 to August 718. The article will be divided into the following sections:

A: The Umayyad Caliphate

B: Pre-war Byzantine

C: Preparations

D: The Grand Invasion

E: Negotiations

F: Leo the Gambler

G: The siege

H: The Bitter Winter

I: Reinforcements

J: Lifting the siege

K: The Aftermath

 

The first two parts will describe the Umayyad Caliphate and Byzantium on the brink of war. The next two sections will discuss the Arab preparations for the invasion and the beginning of military activities. Sections five and six will focus on the negotiations between the main characters: General Maslama of the Syrian army and his Byzantine counterpart, General Leo the Isaurian, who later ascended the throne as Leo III. Sections seven and eight will cover the siege of Constantinople and the implications of a harsh winter. Sections eight and nine will concentrate on the last period of the blockade until the retreat order and the ill fate of the retreating army. The last segment will place the siege into a historical context, foreshadowing the end of the jihad state.

I've started editing the article and hope to upload it to the Academia site within a week. You can view my previous papers at

https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople (1)

 I was not satisfied with the previous draft of this chapter, so I decided to conduct new research and found new features.

I started by creating a new database and I am currently in the process of gathering valuable information and developing content for a future narrative.

As I mentioned before, I will not reference "Greek Fire" in this chapter. However, I am considering the possibility that Byzantine sailors could have used less technological methods, such as fire arrows or grenades hurled or launched by catapults, to burn enemy ships. I will be examining Arabic sources for the negotiations between Leo III and the Arabic commanders, although it's worth noting that these late accounts may not be entirely reliable. The same refers to the Byzantine sources.

  Additionally, I have added a new book to my reading list: "A Sailor's Life for Me: the Middle Byzantine Sailor on Board and at Port" by Zeynep Olgun. This book, which is the author's thesis for the Central European University, explores various aspects of sailors' lives during the seventh and twelfth centuries. I may incorporate some of the collected material into the Prelude to my project, particularly the chapters about the sea, the sailor, and the port. You can find out more about this book

https://www.academia.edu/93477259/MA_Thesis_The_Middle_Byzantine_Sailor_on_Board_and_at_Port

I want to merge two chapters discussing early and later galleys. Both describe the technical aspects of oared ships, including dimensions, design, seaworthiness, functions, and other parameters. It would be beneficial to compare them in a single paper. However, I'm concerned that this combined account might be too long and more focused on a technology-oriented audience.