Arab conquest of Crete

E1011179

The Arab conquest of Crete was a 9th-century Muslim takeover of the island that established an emirate and turned Crete into a major base for piracy and raids in the Byzantine Mediterranean.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf conquest
military conflict
affected Byzantine control of Aegean Sea routes
security of Byzantine islands
chronologyNote exact year of conquest is disputed among sources
conflictType Byzantine–Arab wars
endTime c. 828
followedBy Byzantine attempts to reconquer Crete
Byzantine expedition of 842–843 to Crete
Byzantine expedition of 911 to Crete
Byzantine reconquest of Crete
follows failed Andalusian Arab revolt in al-Andalus
hasPart Muslim landing on Crete
capture of Cretan cities
establishment of the Emirate of Crete
historicalContext decline of Byzantine naval dominance in the 9th century
historicalRegion Eastern Mediterranean
languageOfSources Arabic historical chronicles
Byzantine Greek chronicles
location Byzantine Empire
Crete
mainBelligerent Andalusian Arab exiles
Byzantine Empire
militaryStrategy fortification of central stronghold at Chandax
naval invasion
notableCommanderSide1 Abu Hafs Umar al-Iqritishi
opponent Byzantine imperial fleet
linked to: Byzantine navy

Byzantine land forces
partOf Arab–Byzantine naval conflict in the Mediterranean
pointInTime 9th century
politicalOutcome establishment of an independent or semi-independent emirate
religiousAspect expansion of Islam into Crete
result Muslim victory
creation of the Emirate of Crete
establishment of Muslim rule over Crete
side1 Andalusian Muslim settlers
side2 Byzantine imperial government in Constantinople
significantConsequence Crete became a major base for piracy in the Aegean Sea
increased Muslim raids on Byzantine maritime traffic
raids on Byzantine coastal settlements
significantEvent foundation of Chandax as capital of the emirate
startTime c. 824
c. 827
territoryChanged Crete incorporated into a Muslim emirate
Crete separated from Byzantine control
usedBy Muslim corsairs

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

reconquest of Crete (960–961) predecessorEvent Arab conquest of Crete
Emirate of Crete significantEvent Arab conquest of Crete
Arab conquest of Crete followedBy Byzantine expedition of 842–843 to Crete
linked to: Arab conquest of Crete
Arab conquest of Crete significantConsequence Crete became a major base for piracy in the Aegean Sea
linked to: Arab conquest of Crete
Arab conquest of Crete territoryChanged Crete separated from Byzantine control
linked to: Arab conquest of Crete