Editing 838 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire====
* [[July 22]] &ndash; [[Battle of Anzen]]: Caliph [[al-Mu'tasim]] launches a major punitive expedition against the [[Byzantine Empire]], targeting the two major Byzantine fortress cities of central [[Anatolia]] ([[Ankara|Ancyra]] and [[Amorium]]). He mobilises a vast army (80,000 men) at [[Tarsus, Mersin|Tarsus]], which is divided into two main forces. The northern force, under commander [[Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin|al-Afshin]], invades the [[Armeniac Theme]] from the region of [[Malatya|Melitene]], joining up with the forces of the city's emir, [[Umar al-Aqta]]. The southern, main force, under al-Mu'tasim, passes the [[Cilician Gates]] into [[Cappadocia]]. Emperor [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]] attacks the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasids]], inflicting 3,000 casualties, but is heavily defeated by a counter-attack of 10,000 Turkish [[Mounted archery|mounted archers]]. Theophilos and his guard are encircled, and barely manage to break through and escape.<ref>Treadgold 1997, p. 441.</ref><ref>Haldon 2001, p. 80.</ref><ref>Kiapidou 2003, Chapter 1.</ref>
* [[August]] &ndash; [[Sack of Amorium|Siege of Amorium]]: The Abbasids besiege the Byzantine fortress city of [[Amorium]], which is protected by 44 towers, according to the contemporary geographer [[Ibn Khordadbeh]]. Both besiegers and besieged have many [[siege engine]]s, and for several days both sides exchange missile fire. However, a Muslim prisoner defects to al-Mu'tasim, and informs him about a place in the wall which has been badly damaged by heavy rainfall. The Abbasids concentrate their hits on this section, and after two days manage to breach the [[Defensive wall|city wall]]. After two weeks of repeated attacks, the Byzantine defenders surrender. The city is sacked and plundered, 70,000 inhabitants are slaughtered, and the survivors are sold as [[Slavery|slaves]].
[[File:Siege of Amorium.jpg|250px|thumb|Miniature from the ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'' depicting the Arab siege of Amorium in 838]]