Key Facts
- Dates
- 707–708 or 708–709 (disputed)
- Cause
- Retaliation for Byzantine defeat of Umayyad army under Maimun the Mardaite c. 706
- Outcome
- City surrendered, plundered, largely destroyed, population deported
- Key factor
- Byzantine relief army defeated due to commanders' quarrels and troop inexperience
- Source uncertainty
- Greek, Arabic, and Syriac sources each give different dates
Strategic Narrative Overview
An Arab army invaded Byzantine territory in summer 707 or 708 and laid siege to Tyana. The city initially held out, and the besieging force endured severe hardship through the winter, nearly abandoning the effort. In spring, Emperor Justinian II dispatched a relief army to break the siege. However, disputes among Byzantine commanders and the poor training of much of the relief force led to a decisive Umayyad victory over the relieving army, leaving Tyana isolated and vulnerable.
01 / The Origins
The Umayyad Caliphate launched the siege of Tyana as retaliation for a significant defeat suffered by its army under commander Maimun the Mardaite at the hands of the Byzantine Empire around 706. The operation formed part of ongoing Arab efforts to push into Byzantine Anatolia, targeting Tyana, a strategically positioned city in Cappadocia that controlled important routes into the Byzantine heartland.
03 / The Outcome
Following the defeat of the Byzantine relief force, Tyana's inhabitants were compelled to surrender. Although terms were agreed upon, the city was plundered and largely destroyed in violation of those terms. Byzantine sources record that the population was taken captive and deported, leaving Tyana deserted. The episode marked a significant Umayyad advance in Anatolia and demonstrated the fragility of Byzantine frontier defenses during the reign of Justinian II.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Maimun the Mardaite.
Side B
1 belligerent
Justinian II (emperor, sent relief army).
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.