A major city of Syria, Damascus fell to Muslim forces in the seventh century following the collapse of Byzantine resistance after Heraclius' death, when the army was massacred and the region lost along with Jerusalem. It later served as a base for Arab naval power, functioning as the home port of the fleet that mounted the failed siege of Constantinople in 717–718. By the tenth century it formed part of the domain of the Arab ruler Saif ad-Dawla, whose decades of raiding into Byzantine territory ultimately provoked a decisive counter-campaign by Nikephoros Phokas.
What each episode says
Episode 10 (2 mentions)
Conquered by Muslim forces who poured into Syria after Sophronius' opposition dissolved the Christological compromise. Damascus fell along with Jerusalem after the Byzantine army, without Heraclius to lead them, was massacred in a sandstorm.
“With even local areas divided, the Muslims poured into Syria, conquering Damascus and”
“The way was now clear, and without hope of rescue, Damascus and Jerusalem fell.”
Episode 11 (1 mention)
The home port of the Arab fleet — mentioned as the destination to which fewer than half of the Arab invaders managed to drag themselves back after the failed siege of Constantinople in 717-718.
“Over than half of the Arab invaders managed to drag themselves back to Damascus, while”
Episode 13 (1 mention)
Mentioned alongside Aleppo as part of the domain of the Arab ruler Saif ad-Dawla, who had been raiding Byzantine territory for twenty years before Nikephoros Phokas' devastating counter-campaign.
“The Arab ruler of Aleppo and Damascus, Saif Ad-Dula, had been raiding Byzantine territory”
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