Pengepungan Konstantinopel (717–718): Perbedaan antara revisi

Setelah [[Pengepungan Pertama Konstantinopel oleh Arab]] (674–678), baik [[Bangsa Arab|Arab]] maupun [[Kekaisaran Bizantium|Bizantium]] mengalami periode yang damai. Setelah tahun 680, [[Kekhalifahan Umayyah]] menderita [[Perang saudara Islam kedua|Perang Saudara Islam Kedua]] dan kebangkitan Bizantium yang terjadi kemudian di Timur memungkinkan Bizantium untuk menarik upeti berjumlah besar dari pemerintah Umayyah di [[Damaskus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lilie|1976|pp=81–82, 97–106}}.</ref> Pada tahun 692, setelah Umayyah berhasil menghentikan Perang Saudara Muslim, Kaisar [[Justinianus II]] (berkuasa. 685–695 dan 705–711) kembali memicu permusuhan dengan Umayyah. Hasilnya adalah serangkaian kemenangan Arab yang berujung pada lepasnya kendali Bizantium atas Armenia dan kepangeranan-kepangeranan Kaukasus, serta gangguan bertahap terhadap wilayah Bizantium. Dari tahun ke tahun, para jenderal Kekhalifahan, biasanya anggota keluarga Umayyah, melancarkan serbuan ke wilayah Bizantium dan merebut benteng dan kota.<ref>{{harvnb|Blankinship|1994|p=31}}; {{harvnb|Haldon|1990|p=72}}; {{harvnb|Lilie|1976|pp=107–120}}.</ref> Setelah 712, sistem pertahanan Bizantium mulai menampakkan tanda-tanda keruntuhan: semakin lama, serbuan Arab menembus semakin dalam ke [[Asia Kecil]], benteng-benteng di perbatasan berulang kali diserang dan dijarah, dan reaksi Bizantium semakin lama semakin lemah.<ref>{{harvnb|Haldon|1990|p=80}}; {{harvnb|Lilie|1976|pp=120–122, 139–140}}.</ref> Dalam usaha ini, Arab dibantu oleh adanya [[Anarki Dua Puluh Tahun|periode ketidastabilan dalam negeri yang berkepanjangan]], yang berlangsung menyusul penggulingan pertama Justinianus II pada 695. Selama periode ini, tahta Biznatium tujuh kali berpindah tangan dalam revolusi yang keras.<ref>{{harvnb|Blankinship|1994|p=31}}; {{harvnb|Lilie|1976|p=140}}; {{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|pp=345–346}}.</ref> Meskipun demikian, seperti disebutkan oleh ahli Bizantium [[Warren Treadgold]], "Serangan Arab bagaimanapun juga semakin meningkat setelah berakhirnya perang saudara&nbsp;... Dengan tenaga manusia, lahan, dan kekayaan yang lebih besar daripada Bizantium, Arab mulai memusatkan seluruh kekuatan mereka untuk melawan Bizantium. Kini mereka berniat sepenuhnya meruntuhkan kekaisaran itu dengan menaklukan ibukotanya."<ref name="Treadgold345">{{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=345}}.</ref>

 

 

<!--Arab preparations, especially the construction of a large fleet, did not go unnoticed by the worried Byzantines. Emperor [[Anastasios II]] (r. 713–715) sent an embassy to Damascus under the [[patrikios|patrician]] and [[Eparch of Constantinople|urban prefect]], Daniel of [[Sinop, Turkey|Sinop]]e, ostensibly in order to plea for peace, but in reality to spy on the Arabs. Anastasios, in turn, began to prepare for the inevitable siege: the [[Walls of Constantinople|fortifications]] of Constantinople were repaired and equipped with ample artillery, while food stores were brought into the city and those inhabitants who could not stockpile food to last for three years evacuated.<ref>{{harvnb|Mango|Scott|1997|p=534}}; {{harvnb|Lilie|1976|pp=122–123}}; {{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|pp=343–344}}.</ref> Anastasios strengthened his navy and in early 715 dispatched it against the Arab fleet that had come to the shores of [[Lycia]] at [[Finike|Phoenix]]—it is also likely that this is a confusion with [[Fenaket|Phoenix]] across [[Rhodes]],<ref>{{harvnb|Mango|Scott|1997|p=537 (Note #5)}}.</ref> and perhaps even with [[Phoenicia]] (modern [[Lebanon]]), famed for its [[Cedrus libani|cedar]] forests<ref>{{harvnb|Lilie|1976|p=123 (Note #62)}}.</ref>—to collect timber for their ships. At Rhodes, however, the Byzantine fleet, encouraged by the soldiers of the [[Opsician Theme]], rebelled, killed their commander John the Deacon and sailed north to [[Adramyttium]]. There, they raised a rather reluctant former tax collector Emperor [[Theodosios III]].<ref>{{harvnb|Haldon|1990|p=80}}; {{harvnb|Mango|Scott|1997|pp=535–536}}; {{harvnb|Lilie|1976|pp=123–124}}; {{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=344}}.</ref> Anastasios crossed into [[Bithynia]] in the Opsician Theme to confront the rebellion, but the rebel fleet sailed on to [[Chrysopolis]]. From there, it launched attacks against Constantinople, until, in late summer, sympathizers within the capital opened its gates to them. Anastasios held out at [[Nicaea (city)|Nicaea]] for several months, finally agreeing to resign and retire as a monk.<ref>{{harvnb|Haldon|1990|pp=80, 82}}; {{harvnb|Mango|Scott|1997|p=536}}; {{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|pp=344–345}}.</ref> The accession of Theodosios, who by all accounts was both unwilling and incapable, as a puppet emperor of the Opsicians provoked the reaction of the other themes, especially the [[Anatolics]] and the [[Armeniacs]] under their respective ''[[strategos|strategoi]]'' (generals) [[Leo the Isaurian]] and [[Artabasdus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lilie|1976|p=124}}; {{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=345}}.</ref>