Editing Crete (section)

===Arab rule===

{{Main|Emirate of Crete}}

[[File:The Cretan Saracens defeat the Byzantines under Damianos.jpg|thumb|250px|The Byzantines, under the general Damian, attacked Crete but were defeated by the Saracens, {{circa|828}}, as depicted by [[John Skylitzes|Ioannes Scylitzes]] (see [[Skylitzes Chronicle]]).]]

In the 820s, after 900 years as a Roman island, Crete was captured by Andalusian [[Muwallad]]s led by [[Abu Hafs (pirate)|Abu Hafs]],<ref name="Iberia">Reinhart Dozy, ''Histoire des Musulmans d'Espagne: jusqu'à la conquête de l'Andalousie par les Almoravides'' (French) pg. 711–1110, Leiden, 1861 & 1881, 2nd edition</ref> who established the [[Emirate of Crete]]. The Byzantines launched a campaign that took most of the island back in 842 and 843 under [[Theoktistos]]. Further Byzantine campaigns in 911 and 949 failed. In 960–61, [[Nikephoros II|Nikephoros Phokas]]' [[Siege of Chandax|campaign]] restored Crete to the Byzantine Empire, after a century and a half of Arab control.