Battle of Lalakaon

Overview

The Battle of Lalakaon, or Battle of Poson or Porson, was fought in 863 between the Byzantine Empire and an invading Arab army in Paphlagonia. The Byzantine army was led by Petronas, the uncle of Emperor Michael III, although Arab sources also mention the presence of the Emperor in person. The Arabs were led by the emir of Melitene (Malatya), Umar al-Aqta.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Lalakaon, fought in 863 in Paphlagonia, was a significant engagement in the long-running Arab–Byzantine wars. The confrontation pitted a Byzantine force under Petronas, uncle of Emperor Michael III, against an Arab army led by Umar al-Aqta, the emir of Melitene. Arab sources also place the Emperor himself on the field. The battle marked a major Byzantine effort to repel an Arab incursion into Paphlagonia, a region in northern Anatolia, reflecting the ongoing contest for control over the Anatolian frontier that defined much of this centuries-long conflict between the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate and its associated frontier emirate forces.

Commanders (5)