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Battle of Krasos(Crasus) |
year: 804September 804 |
| Victory of the Arabs | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
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enemy: Arabs (Abbasids)
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location: In Krasos, Phrygia in modern Eskisehir province, Turkey
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accuracy:
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battle type: Surprise Attack |
war: Abbasid invasions |
modern country:
Turkey |
| ▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Nikephoros I) | ▼ The Enemies | |
| Commander: | Emperor Nikephoros I | Ibrahim ibn Jibril |
| Forces: | Unknown | Unknown |
| Losses: | 40,700 |
| Background story: |
| Nikephoros I had dethroned Empress Irene of Athens and became emperor in October 802. The new ruler refused to pay the tribute imposed by Caliph Harun al-Rashid on Irene. Nikephoros knew that after this the Arabs would attack and he gathered a powerful army in Asia Minor. This army however, broke out into rebellion and proclaimed their commander Bardanes Tourkos as emperor. The Caliph Harun al-Rashid, taking advantage of the situation, invaded to Asia Minor. When the rebellion of Bardanes was put out, Nikephoros was afraid to trust any veteran general with the command of a large army, and took the command himself. |
The Battle: |
 On his march back, however, the Arabs launched a surprise attack on him at Krasos in Phrygia and defeated his army. According to Arabian sources, the Byzantines lost 40,700 men and 4,000 pack animals, while the Byzantine emperor himself was thrice wounded. |
Aftermath: |
| Preoccupied with trouble in Khorasan, Harun accepted tribute and made peace. An exchange of prisoners was also arranged. |
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