>In early 904, along with another Greek renegade, Damian of Tarsus, Leo participated in the Abbasid campaign that wrested Egypt from the Tulunids and restored it to Abbasid control.[2][7] Leo and Damian would frequently co-operate in the next decade in their attacks on the Byzantine Empire.[2] In the summer of 904, Leo was at the head of a major Abbasid naval expedition of 54 vessels from the Syrian and Egyptian fleets, whose initial target reportedly was Constantinople itself. The Arab fleet penetrated the Dardanelles and sacked Abydos, as the Byzantine navy under the droungarios Eustathios Argyros was reluctant to confront them. Emperor Leo VI the Wise replaced Argyros with the more energetic Himerios, but Leo of Tripoli forestalled the Byzantines, turning back west and heading for the Empire's second city, Thessalonica, which he sacked after a three-day siege on 31 July 904. The sack of the city brought the Muslim fleet enormous booty and many captives who were taken to be sold as slaves, including the eyewitness John Kaminiates, who wrote the main account of the city's siege and fall.[4][8][9] Arab sources, confusing Thessalonica with Attaleia, erroneously report that Leo sacked the latter city.[10]Why were there so many Greek renegades leading Arab fleets?
>>18005696Romans were physically unable to not argue with each other over most minor bullshit.And their statehood survived for 2000 years so maybe they were onto something.
Mercenary service was routine; loyalty was often personal, not religious.
