In the annals of history, Constantinople is known for being the second capitol of the Roman Empire, established by Emperor Constantine in a city which had been known as Byzantium, becoming the capitol of the Byzantine Empire after Rome fell, and for falling to the Ottoman Turks over 1,100 years later, who gave the city its third name, Istanbul. What is less well known is that conquering Constantinople was a goal of Muslim Arabs in the seventh and eight centuries after they had expanded out of the Arabian peninsula, roughly three centuries before Christians in Europe launched the Crusades. In 674, the Arabs besieged Constantinople for the first time.
This first siege lasted about four years.
In 717, the caliph Suleiman, who ruled in Damascus, sent 120,000 warriors across Asia Minor and 80,000 more fighting men by sea, with the goal of meeting at Constantinople and laying siege. He put his brother Maslama in charge of his forces, giving him the command, "Stay there until you conquer it or I recall you." During the siege, Suleiman died and was replaced by Omar II, who recalled Maslama and called off the siege about a year after it began.
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National Review. Some more information may be found at
Byzantine Battles and
Graphic Firing Table.
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