Siege of Constantinople 717-718 - Early Muslim Expansion 4K DOCUMENTARY 

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Leo III: "The beacons of Thrace are lit! Constantinople calls for aid!" Tervel: "And Bulgaria will answer."

It's unbelievable how much Emperor Leo gets overlooked when speaking of history. He played the most integral role in saving his empire and stopping the caliphate at its peak with his genius and cunning. His name should be known as much if not more that Charles Martel (no offence)

Fun fact, a King of the Turk Shahis from Bactria named his son Fromo Kesaro (Rome Caesar) in honor of his friend Leo III's victory over the Caliphate which was their common enemy

Thanks for an amazing 21st birthday gift K&G !!!

RU-vidr and Naval Historiographer Drachinifel, did an excellent post in which he recreates various historically based formulae for (what was thought to be) Greek Fire. He tried several formulae, all the results were terrifying, even to a modern audience. Worth a look!. Well done K&G.

Somebody should do a movie about the seige of 717, one of the most important sieges of all time

Arabs: We have an army and a fleet. Leo III: We have napalm.

I have the perception that most of us do not really realise the sharp decline in Byzantine/Roman demography and income after Justinian's reign, only to get worse with the Persian expeditions and the loss of urban centers to the Arabs. Although Heraclius and his successors are "unsuccessful" judging from the map and some battle outcomes, their contribution was monumental in sustaining the empire through 7th century. Especially after Justinian II's death, the situation was dire. Leo was the man of the hour, as Heraclius before him and Alexios Komnenos, few centuries later.

Finally! Do you know how many times I have lost my rings while storming the wall of a city or castle? Good to know, somebody care for us, the common arrow-fodder!

Very impressed with the host's precise speech and correct pronunciation of the foreign names. Always a good job.

I waited so long for this event to be documented by you guys!! Awesome and fascinating as always :)

Given how long this series has gone for, will you eventually cover the Battle of Talas in 751?

Awesome video. Speaking of the eighth century, could you guys cover the Carolingian empire in a series of its own?

Leo and Constantine were of equal importance to Charles Martel in terms of preserving Christian Europe, imo

Siege of Constantinople 717-718: 🙄 Siege of Constantinople 1453: 💀☠

Bulgaria had way more involvement here it is said that bulgaria saved the Byzantine empire also idk who said it arab that they were scared of 3 things the sea, god and the Bulgarians also bulgarians massacred like 30k troops

This siege was far more important than Poitiers. This delayed the expansion of Islam to southestern Europe for 600 years and prevented the control of the most important city on Europe at the time by the muslims. If the romans were defeated, I cannot imagine what would become of Europe.

the early muslim were astonishing. From people who were 100 years ago in mecca persecuated to people who besieged constantinople. Unique in human history.

Lol this is the kind of sponsorship I can get behind, one that is utterly irrelevant due to my occupation forbidding the use of rings. Now if only Ridge would take their wallets and add a method to carry keys and then I'd be interested in their product. Thanks again K&G for your high quality documentaries as always.

Oh yes, oh yes. Finally a video about the Great Siege. Thank you so much. 😍😍😍

Great sige Constantinopol 717-718 Bizantyne and Bulgaria aly for critic moment in Europe. Protect all EuropaGreat History ❤Most epic battle Greece 🇬🇷 Bulgaria 🇧🇬.

Tervel was hailed as the Savior of Europe after the battle and Justinian ll awarded him the title of kaisar (Caesar) which is second only to the emperor and was the first foreign ruler in Eastern Roman history to receive such a title.

Hands down one of the best videos I've ever seen ima share

The queen of cities is victorious

The Umayyad campaign against Constantinople seems like yet another example of an empire beginning to rot and trying to shore up it’s crumbling system with a grand foreign war that ultimately, only accelerated it’s collapse.

damn... Leo III was smth else. it's like the balance in the Force, of sorts. the Ummayyads were too powerful, the romans too weak. without Leo III, the roman empire would have fallen then and there. and his brilliant diplomacy is so unreal, it became legendary. bringing another rival and bitter foe into the fight to share the glory... cheers to Leo III and Tervel. if there is an Afterlife, i'd like to meet them.

And Constantinople survived another 700 years 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

Kinda surreal to see the Romans and the Bulgarians on the same side. Alliances were really kinetic I suppose

Looking at the size of the Roman empire after it lost almost the whole of the Middle East to the Muslims I am surprised it was still called an empire. More astonishingly how Constantinople could hold back the Muslims for so long. Is there a video explaining what made Constantinople so protected?

Constantinople was at its strongest, unlike during the time of the Ottomans. In the time of the Ottomans, the Byzantine Empire ended, leaving only Constantinople, and there were only 20,000 fighters inside it.

Sulayman's ascendence to the throne probably helped end the Umayyad Caliphate sooner than it would've ended. Because doing away with many of the greatest champions of expansion for your own gains sounds self-defeating. I wonder what would've happened had Sulayman not removed any of them.

Muslims: "We're going to take Constantinople" Leo III: *maniacal laughter*

Will the battle of Akroinon be mentioned? Considering it’s the first field battle the Byzantines won against the caliphate.

Thank you!!( kings & General's team)I really love your history documentaries. I watch your shows like life my depends on it's that good!. After work allmost ever day. The voice of the guy talks so professional is so awesome,the way he describes every show! That's a true professional!😂

What a treat when Eid is tomorrow too!

You can tell the Illiac Bay area of Tamriel took a LOT of inspiration from this area and it's culture 🤯 (from around this time period). Very 🆒, d00d

And Pope canonise Tervel like saint ….he have a title kesar of East Roman Empire….the first and only ruler of other country with that title in history of Romans…

I love the smell of Napalm in the morning “ⲁⲣⲉⲥⲕⲟⲙⲁⲓ ⲛⲁ ⲟⲥⲫⲣⲓⲍⲟⲙⲁⲓ ⲧⲏⲛ ⲉⲙⲡⲣⲓⲥⲧⲓⲕⲏⲛ ⲧⲏⲛ ⲡⲣϣⲓⲁⲛ" Some Sailor in a Dromon

As a Muslim, suleyman was never meant to take the city. He was a rash, political unislamic power hungry man, less than a century after the time of the Prophet he was engaging in practices strictly forbidden in Islam. I’m actually glad he lost

Great video! Now do the taking of Toledo in 711.

Please cover the Isaurian dynasty, at least Leo III and Constantine V

I still wonder why the Copts defected, considering the byzantines and them saw each other as heretics, was it due to increasing oppression by rulers in Egypt?

I like to see more videos about Caesar post civil war please ❤😊

Excellent work

what an incredible story. I love that we have two good and contrasting reports on what happened.

What a fantastic video & series! ⚔🔥👏

Although muslims later conquered Constantinople but so many things in the history could be different if they were successful in the first attempt.

Βack in 717-718 AD, the Arabs were attacking both Byzantium and Iberia.

What a coincidence I just watched your old video on the siege yesterday thinking if you would redo it.

If I could pick one critical event that saved Catholic Europe, I would certainly choose the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople! The Arab defeat of 717-718, in my historical perspective, was MUCH worse than Poitiers (732), whether politically, militarily or economically. The Arab Siege of 717-718, and NOT Poitiers, was the very first major Muslim defeat in history! In terms of casualties, it was far worse than Poitiers. Caliph Umar II himself (717-720), I think it is important to point this out, considered the possibility of evacuating the Muslim troops from the recently conquered Al-Andalus (Iberian Peninsula), precisely to replace all the casualties that the Umayyad Army had suffered in Constantinople. For very little, Tariq ibn Ziyad's troops were not evacuated from Hispania/Al-Andalus, which would have changed the history of the Iberian Peninsula forever. Emperor Leo III's victory, in my historical perspective, had not only postponed the Muslim conquest of Eastern Europe, but it was also one of the main factors that weakened the Umayyad state of Damascus, which eventually facilitated the Abbasid revolution in 750. In terms of casualties, the Siege of Constantinople was far worse than Poitiers. While at Poitiers, for example, the Muslims had lost about 10,000 soldiers, at the Second Siege of Constantinople, on the other hand, it was 10x that number: 100,000 men! In my own words, the Second Siege of Constantinople was a "Poitiers multiplied by 10". Ironically and paradoxically, the Siege of Constantinople is relatively overshadowed by the Battle of Poitiers. In order to properly understand the impact of the Roman/Byzantine victory, I think it's first necessary to comprehend Constantinople's strategic importance! Constantinople was, first and foremost, a sort of "shield" (Ασπίς) for Europe. Constantinople, in my own words, was the "shield and the protection of Europe" ("Η ασπίδα/προστασία της Ευρώπης"). Due to its geographical and strategic importance, Constantinople functioned as a kind of "wall" (Τείχος) and "protection" (Προστασία) that, in a certain way, protected any kind of foreign invasion of Europe via Anatolia. In other words, Constantinople was the "last line of defense" of medieval Christendom, as well as being the greatest city in the world. After all, it was not for nothing that Constantinople had been called the "City of cities" (Η ΠΌΛΗ ΤΩΝ ΠΌΛΕΩΝ). In addition to being a shield, Constantinople was also a sort of "bridge" between Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus Strait (Βόσπορος), for example, not only connected Europe with Anatolia (Asia Minor), but it also connected the Black Sea (Εύξεινος Πόντος) with the Sea of Marmara (Προποντίς). The Sea of Marmara, in turn, is connected to the Aegean Sea via the Dardanelles Strait (Ελλησπόντος). What am I really trying to say with this information? It's Very simple! Whoever controlled all these regions and straits would have both Europe and Asia at his feet! Due to its strategic importance, the city was an authentic fortress! Moreover, Constantinople had been the driving force behind Europe's defense for centuries; whether against Arabs, Huns, Mongols, and Turks. As I mentioned before, Constantinople was like a "shield" that protected Europe. Therefore, if Constantinople had been conquered... so would Europe. Leo III not only saved Constantinople, but Europe as a whole! The Muslim defeat in 718, in my historical perspective, was also humiliating because of another factor: the Muslim overall commander, Prince Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik, was not just any Arab commander. He was the brother of Caliph Sulayman himself, and one of the most prominent Arab generals of the Umayyad Army. This fact made the Muslim defeat even more bitter. The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople, in my historical perspective, was indeed a salvific event for Catholic Europe, even more than Charles Martel's victory at Poitiers. The Arab defeat was so severe that it weakened even the Umayyad state itself! Had it not been for the Byzantine victory in 717-718, Constantinople would have fallen into Muslim hands as early as the 8th century, i.e., 7 centuries before the Ottoman conquest (1453).

I saw the Dabuyids in the map and i couldn't help to notice a similarity with the kingdom of Asturias. They are both remnants of a fallen state but while the kingdom of Asturias managed to resist and eventually start the centuries long reconquista, the Dabuyids were eventually annexed by the arabs. I am going to start a Dabuyid campaign in CK2 and restore Eranshahr... as a Nestorian.

It's impressive how fast the Islamic empire expanded in such a brief time just like it's impressive how many times Byzantium was besieged. I also find very interesting taking into account the two narratives of both sides, to give a wider and better understanding of the events.

i love your videos about roman history!

I mentioned your video in my video :)

Im waiting for Tours 732⚔

@KingsandGenerals - funny how the whole storyline was so extensive, but the Bulgar intervention that actually ended the siege was mentioned for meager 35-40 seconds in the whole video and some itty-bitty credit was given to them! So from Arabs being from the position of strength and growing own crops, not to touch their vast supplies and just losing some supply caravan to the point that harsh winter and deteriorating conditions in Arab camps Romans became the stronger army ( hiding so bravely behind the walls ) it just seems someone is doing no real good historically accurate in portraying the events... Sources are stating the Arabs had second wooden wall raised to protect them from the Bulgars, who have constantly harassed them and if Maslama`s army was around 150-200K ( different sources vary ) some 20-30K Bulgars would have not been that big of a treat, unless they actually were!

Proud to be born in Christian BULGARIA, Soldier for Christ! We defeated Islam and Arabs at their Strongest period

Hey love your guys vids and was wondering if you guys would do a vid of John hunyadi

I've been waiting for this episode!

I wonder why the Umayyad Arabs didn't permanently conquer Anatolia before attacking Constantinople? Had they done so they would have won

As an American, an early Muslim conquest of the Byzantium empire would be interesting

Really wish bulgarians and romans cloud have once again work together in the 14th century.

Every video comment when there is Roman in it : I too is something of a Romanphile myself

it was only ummayads who conquered majortiy of lands and provide a base for golden age of islam

The sources are divided on the details of the Bulgar participation in the siege: Theophanes and al-Tabari report that the Bulgars attacked the Arab encampment (likely because of their treaty with Leo), while according to the Syriac Chronicle of 846, it was the Arabs who strayed into Bulgarian territory, seeking provisions. Michael the Syrian on the other hand mentions that the Bulgars participated in the siege from the beginning, with attacks against the Arabs as they marched through Thrace towards Constantinople, and subsequently on their encampment. The siege had clearly failed, and Caliph Umar sent orders to Maslama to retreat. After thirteen months of siege, on 15 August 718, the Arabs departed.

I recently bought a book about the first Jihad, can't wait to read it.

The siege was one of the most important events in European history. This battle along side Covadonga and Tours were the events that saved western civilization.

This siege cost Byzantium the deaths of 300,000 of its Christian population...Byzantium lost all its army before the Siege 400,000 Byzantine troops and 60,000 armenian troops were killed by arab muslim armies sent by Al Walid during the 10 years wars between 86 and 96 AH thanks to skillful muslim commenders espacially Al Abbas ibn Al Walid and Maslama ibn Abdul-Malik

In hoc signo vicit; in hoc et vincet ✝️

Thanks a lot I love it.

Damn imagine the Mediterranean with no Islam 😢

Omar bin abdulaziz had a bigger role and impact than what was mentioned, though great work overall!

Amazing video once again from Kings and Generals. The only mistake I think they made is presenting the western Byzantine lands as ''Slavic controlled'' they wasn't controlled by Slavs, there was no Slavic political entity, Slavs just moved there to populate these lands which were Byzantine territory, the lands were devasted previously by the Avar raids so the Byzantine Empire had to repopulate them. On the map they should be shown as light purple, as part of Byzantium.

You should do a series on the Bosnian war from the Bosnian perspective

We can't ignore the fact that Leo was only 30-33 years old when he protected Constantinople.

Stunning description for the ring betwean the Caliph and Costantiapole defenders. Liked the ad. Mix 😂

Perhaps it is a famous battle in Europe. But in the Middle East, because we really care about it, because the Byzantines became subject to us after that before Harun al-Rashid

Thanks Tô This Vídeo.

The most best direct video that I have ever encountered 5:48

If I have to choose one battle that stands as the most important battle for our civilization this is easy the one. Really Greeks finest hour. I would argue that the fact that the Greeks held on to Anatolia and Constantinople in the first 100 years of Caliphate is nothing less than a miracle, being so close to their base of operation. I mean, you just have to look how easy the Caliphate extended in all directions, all but this one. And the pressure... my God... was just immense, with incursions, invasions and raids year after year after year for almost 100 years. We would have been still in 7th century if not for their heroic stand. These people are my heroes, these people are everyone heroes, even if they don't know it. Thank you Greeks! Thank you heroes! Forever ❤.

Every big power in the region for like a thousand years: "Got nothing to do? We could besiege Constantinople!"

Πάλι με χρόνια με καιρούς πάλι Δικά σου θα'ναι Δέσποινα Παναγιά. ☦☦☦🇬🇷🇨🇾

Kings and Generals, Your description of the Bulgarian participation in the siege was quite insufficient. You made it seem like the siege was won by galleys alone. You understand that had the Arabs been left free to forage and not had mortal danger and been pinned down by 3 separate rear attacks by the Bulgarians, the city would have fallen. The Arabs would’ve simply made camp and taken over the surrounding cities and countryside as the Ottomans did centuries later and the city would have been cut off from its empire. Why is giving credit where it’s due a problem?

Great video @kings and generals! However, it is incorrect to show Melitene as belonging to the Byzantines, by the early 700s the city had long been under the control of the Arabs, having been captured by the Rashidun Caliphate in the early period of conquest.

In fact, this was the second attack on Tabaristan, the first attack on Tabaristan took place during the time of Muawiyah. Delamians under the command of Farkhan, who was from the Mazandaran army.they blocked the way to the Arabs in the mountainous area and killed all the Arab troops. in such a way that not even one of the ghazis survived to bring the news of this massacre to Syria. It was painful for Arab chroniclers to record such an event , but a proverb caused the story of this failure to enter the works of Arab historians. Tazian when they wanted to say that someone left and there is no trace of him He went to the same place where Masqela and his companions went He went where the Arab threw a straw به همانجا رفت که مصقله و یارانش و رفتند . به جایی رفت که عرب نی انداخت .

Bizancio and Bulgaria greats saviors of Europe !!

After seeing the Second Siege of Constantinople by the Arabs, I somehow figured out how the Battle of Fort Slava will go if Paradis joined the Marley Mid-East War on the side of the Allies in Attack on Titan. In other words, it will be a victory for the Allies. Thanks Kings and Generals for this video!

Many commanders wanted to conquer the city as Mohammed s.a.w said “you shall conquer Constantinople, what a wonderful army will that army be, what a wonderful emir (commander) will that emir be”

The 700s are my 2nd favorite era of Byzantine history.

In the video Bulgaria was very briefly mentioned, but that is a shame. Bulgaria helped the most to Romans, as if they weren't there Constantinople would of fallen. It was the biggest battle by the time of around 80k arabs against 20-30k Bulgarians and like 20-30k Arabs were slained. This battle was way larger than the French against the Arabs, but it is less known and told (on purpose). Keep your selves always knowledgeable!

Thank you very much for covering the much more important assault on Europe this time, and covering the Bulgarian actions in this siege!!!

20k is a bit low I've watched a video made by a fellow Arab (I'm Syrian) and it seems even Arabs say their losses might've been as high as 150k (which is an exaggeration, but 100k seems to be an accepted number)

who the heck is going to buy a ridge ring. Wtf is that product.

Той який зрадив Папа Римський і всі Християнє.

It's interesting how I've quite recently watched a video on this siege of constantinople, going into some detail on roman politics directly before, the deals with the bulgars, how different outcomes would have affected the "western world", etc.; And now, this video shows almost none of that, but instead gives the arab perspective. Interesting how one can learn so much (though I probably won't memorize a lot of it) from two different takes on the same topic!

Thanks for the video

There once was a dream. A dream worth fighting for. A dream called Rome. And this was the day the dream was guarded at a heavy cost.

Yes, I'm here

The map is wrong qutayba has conquered transoxiana and was campaigning in Fergana but this video doesn’t even show Bukhara and Samarkand in ummayad control