Editing Nikephoros II Phokas (section)

=== Conquest of Crete ===
{{main|Siege of Chandax}}
[[File:Byzantines under Nikephoros Phokas besiege Chandax.png|thumb|left|upright=1.35|Depiction of the [[Siege of Chandax]] by Phokas, winter 960–61]]

From the ascension of Emperor [[Romanos II]] in 959, Nikephoros and his younger brother [[Leo Phokas the Younger|Leo Phokas]] were placed in charge of the eastern and western field armies respectively. In 960, 27,000 [[watercraft rowing|oarsmen]] and [[marine (military)|marines]] were assembled to man a fleet of 308 ships carrying 50,000 troops.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=495}}{{sfn|Norwich|1991|pp=175–178}} At the recommendation of the influential minister [[Joseph Bringas]], Nikephoros was entrusted to lead this expedition against the Muslim [[Emirate of Crete]], and he led his fleet to the island and defeated a minor Arab force upon disembarking near Almyros. He soon began a nine-month siege of the fortress town of [[Heraklion|Chandax]], where his forces suffered through the winter due to supply issues.{{sfn|McMahon|2021|p=65}} Following a failed assault and many raids into the countryside, Nikephoros entered Chandax on 6 March 961 and soon wrested control of the entire island from the Muslims.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|pp=493–495}} Upon returning to [[Constantinople]], he was denied the usual honor of a [[Roman triumph|triumph]], but was permitted an [[ovation]] in the [[Hippodrome of Constantinople|Hippodrome]].{{sfn|Norwich|1991|p=961}}