Editing Basil I (section)

===Foreign affairs===
[[File:MadridSkylitzesFol100vDetail.jpg|thumb|The Sicilian stronghold of Syracuse [[Siege of Syracuse (877–878)|falls]] to the Arabs in 878.]]
Emperor Basil's reign was marked by the troublesome ongoing war with the heretical [[Paulicians]], centered on [[Divriği|Tephrike]] on the upper [[Euphrates]], who rebelled, allied with the Arabs, and raided as far as [[Nicaea]], sacking [[Ephesus]]. Basil's general, [[Christopher (Domestic of the Schools)|Christopher]], [[Battle of Bathys Ryax|defeated]] the Paulicians in 872, and the death of their leader, [[Chrysocheir]], led to the definite subjection of their state.<ref>{{harvnb|Jenkins|1987|p=191}}.</ref> Basil was the first Byzantine emperor since [[Constans II]] (r. 641–668) to pursue an active policy to restore the Empire's power in the West. Basil allied with [[Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Holy Roman Emperor Louis II]] (r. 850–875) against the Arabs and sent a fleet of 139 ships to clear the [[Adriatic Sea]] of their raids. With Byzantine help, Louis II [[Louis II's campaign against Bari (866–871)|captured Bari]] from the Arabs in 871. The city eventually became Byzantine territory in 876. However, the Byzantine position on [[Sicily (theme)|Sicily]] deteriorated, and [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]] fell to the [[Emirate of Sicily]] in 878. This was ultimately Basil's fault as he had diverted a relief fleet from Sicily to haul [[marble]] for a church instead. Although most of Sicily was lost, the general [[Nikephoros Phokas the Elder|Nikephoros Phokas (the Elder)]] succeeded in taking [[Taranto]] and much of [[Calabria]] in 880. The successes in the [[Italian peninsula]] opened a new period of Byzantine domination there. Above all, the Byzantines were beginning to establish a strong presence in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], and especially the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]].<ref>{{harvnb|Jenkins|1987|pp=185–187}}.</ref>
[[File:Byzantines_under_Nikephoros_Phokas_capture_Amantia.jpg|thumb|The army under Nikephoros Phokas the Elder captures the city of Amantia in Italy.]]