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In 1030 Emperor Romanus III resolved to retaliate upon the incursions of the Muslims on the eastern frontier by leading a large army in person against Aleppo... The Emir of Aleppo scared by the size of Romanus's army offered a peace treaty and an annual tribute paid to the Romans... Romanus III however wanting to repeat the triumphs of Nicephorus II, John I and Basil II sent the Arab ambassadors away... But by allowing himself to be surprised on the march sustained a serious defeat at Azaz near Antioch. Though this disaster was retrieved by the capture and successful defence of Edessa by General Georgios Maniaces in 1032 and by the defeat of a Saracen fleet in the Adriatic, Romanus III never recovered his popularity...
WI Romanus had accepted the peace treaty offered to him by the Emir? How is that altering History? Any thoughts? Had he accepted the treaty would he be free to deal with the Normans in Italy?
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