Michael Baizerman Author

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 ...

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...

  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...