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...

  A s 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 "...

  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 followe...

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 a...

  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 th...

This will be my second article on medieval naval tactics in the Mediterranean. I finished writing this paper many months ago, but I was not ready to release it. Now, I understand why. The account needs to be revised, not only as a literary narrative but also as a concept. A good example is the presumed application of Greek Fire by Byzantine marines. Almost every chronicle mentions this, and modern explorers also repeat this fact. However, I am doubtful about its accuracy. We won't argue about the term. The Crusaders called it Greek Fire, although the Byzantines identified themselves as Romans and used artificial fire, liquid fire, or sea fire. It was stored behind the deck in a large boiler, heated on an open fire, channeled through a tube to the nozzle, and sprayed under pressure toward an enemy ship. When I described it to my friend, a retired engineer, it made him laugh. How could this system work on a wooden boat when even a small human error or technological blunder could lead...