Caliph in Constantinople: Hellenized Islamic World ATL
Part 1: Fall of Constantinople
The year is 717 AD, the Umayyad Caliphate stands supreme as the strongest power on earth. In the past century the Islamic faith had rapidly expanded across the Middle East and North Africa, smashing both the Greek Byzatines and the Persian Sassanids in its wake. The Caliphate now set its sights on the greatest prize of all Constantinople. This cities wealth and splendor were legendary.
Caliph Sulayman vowed to take Constantinople no matter the cost in lives. Sulayman however was in failing health and could not lead the campaign personally. The task of capturing the Byzantine Capital was given to his brother Maslama, who raised a truly massive force to take the city an army of over 80,000 and a fleet of more then 1,500 ships.
The Byzantines Empire which stood in Maslama path was broken both militarily and politically. The great defeats at the hand of the Arabs, and loss of Syria and Egypt, were heavy blows to bear. The Byzantine state was also increasingly unstable. Byzantine Emperor Leo III had only recently deposed his rival Theodosius III and his hold on power was still shaky. Maslama expected to meet little resistance if any at all. This assessment however proved to be false, the Byzantine people were still prepared to defend their capital to the end.
Crossing over into Asia Minor in the summer of 717, Maslama put Constantinople under siege. The massive walls of the city however proved impregnable to the Arab Army. It would be up to the navy to cut its supply route and bring the city to yield. In September the armada of ships arrived and pushed up the Bosporus Strait. Their Byzantine opponents proved to be skilled opponents and their use Greek Fire proved particularly costly. Despite this the Arabs were able still able to break through and disperse the defending Byzantine fleet. Constantinople was now cut off completely by both land and sea.
As the harsh winter set in the situation inside the city became desperate. Starvation and disease gripped the city, thousands died over the winter months. Attempts by Emperor Leo to buy off the invaders failed, Maslama wanted his prize. Leo's last hope was his Bulgarians allies but the failure of this support to materialize spelled the beginning of the end. The final blow came in the spring of 718, a huge Egyptian fleet and another large Arab army arrived to reinforce the besiegers. Leo desperately held on for another few months before admitting defeat and committing suicide. Maslama triumphantly entered Constantinople in August, the Byzantine Empire finally came to end.