Battle of Mauropotamos

Part of the Byzantine-Arab Wars

Date	844
Location	Mauropotamos river, Asia Minor
Result	Arab victory Armistice and a six-year truce with the Abbasid Caliphate concluded

Belligerents

Emirate of Melitene

Byzantine Empire

Commanders and leaders

Umar al-Aqta

Theoktistos

Byzantine–Arab Wars

Early conflicts

Rashidun conquest of Roman Syria

Rashidun conquest of Roman Egypt

Umayyad conquest of North Africa

Umayyad invasions of Anatolia
and Constantinople

Arab invasions of European territories

Later conflicts

The Battle of Mauropotamos (Greek: Μάχη τοῦ Μαυροποτάμου) was a battle fought in 844 between the armies of the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate at Mauropotamos river (either in northern Bithynia or in Galatia). The battle followed a period of inconclusive warfare along the Cilician marches and the loss of an entire Arab fleet off Cyprus. The Byzantine regent, Theoktistos, resolved to end the impasse, but the battle resulted in a clear Abbasid victory, due to the desertion of some Byzantine officers. A civil war broke out among the Abbasids soon after however, and they were unable to exploit their victory. A six-year truce was consequently concluded in 845, followed by a prisoner exchange.

Sources

Kiapidou, Eirini-Sofia (2003). "Battle of Mavropotamos, 844". Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=7925. Retrieved 2010-02-24.