Siege of Chandax

Siege of Chandax
Part of the Arab–Byzantine wars

Depiction of the siege of Chandax from the history of John Skylitzes
Date960 – 6 March 961
Location
Result Byzantine victory
Territorial
changes
Crete reconquered by Byzantium
Belligerents
Emirate of Crete Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Abd al-Aziz ibn Shu'ayb (POW)
an-Nu'man ibn Abd al-Aziz (POW)
Karamuntes
Nikephoros Phokas
Nikephoros Pastilas 
Strength
Garrison of Chandax
Relief force: ~40,000 men (Leo the Deacon)
Unknown, possibly ~34,000 men

The siege of Chandax in 960-961 was the centerpiece of the Byzantine Empire's campaign to recover the island of Crete which since the 820s had been ruled by Muslim Arabs. The campaign followed a series of failed attempts to reclaim the island from the Muslims stretching as far back as 827, only a few years after the initial conquest of the island by the Arabs, and was led by the general and future emperor Nikephoros Phokas. It lasted from autumn 960 until spring 961, when the main Muslim fortress and capital of the island, Chandax (modern Heraklion) was captured. The reconquest of Crete was a major achievement for the Byzantines, as it restored Byzantine control over the Aegean littoral and diminished the threat of Saracen pirates, for which Crete had provided a base of operations.