Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy
Banned
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_I_of_Bulgaria#Suppression_of_Serbian_unrest_and_late_campaigns_against_Byzantium said:Desperate to conquer Constantinople, Simeon planned a large campaign in 924 and sent envoys to the Fatimid caliph Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah, who possessed a powerful navy which Simeon needed. The caliph agreed and sent his own representatives back with the Bulgarians to arrange the alliance. However, the envoys were captured by the Byzantines at Calabria. Romanos offered peace to the Arabs, supplementing this offer with generous gifts, and ruined their union with Bulgaria.
WI the envoys had not been captured?