The Siege of Chandax (2)
I spent some time collecting and evaluating material for my new topic. Last week, I started writing a first draft. I offer you its template (unfinished): a. The Importance of Crete (on the geopolitical map) b. The Emirate of Crete (as the Muslim polity, ca. 824-961) c. The Preparations for the Campaign (the energetic chief minister, the young emperor, and the head of the expedition) d. The Voyage (we do not have the entire itinerary but only some stopovers) e. The Landfall (The armada anchors at Crete, and Nikephoros Phokas conducts the pitched battle on the beach) f. Setting the Military Camp (Pitching the siege camp in the view of Chandax. The Byzantine practice of setting up camps) g. The Siege (The failure of the direct assault, the drawn-out confrontation, an attempt to starve out the besieged) h. Guerilla Operations (The elimination of a Byzantine detachment and Phocas' revenge on Cretan partisans) i. The Winter (The weather hardships fortified by running out of...