Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium, episode 127, Meliting.

Last time we followed John Corkuus, the Empire's commander in chief, as he led a series of

raids into Armenia. His targets were the Arab settlements in the mountains, and the success of

these attacks caused serious terror for the frightened inhabitants. Though the Romans had come this

way before, there had always been the prospect of help being sent from Baghdad to prevent cities from

actually being captured. The past six years had made it clear that little help was available.

The prospect of actual conquest now sent a chill down many spines.

Despite these new offensive maneuvers, the Roman army still pursued indirect guerrilla tactics

as they closed in on the city of Malatine. Though they'd forced their way into the city

a few years earlier, they'd been unable to hold it. And in 931 they removed the garrison,

they'd installed there, after troops from Mesopotamia appeared on the horizon.

So John encouraged the local soldiers to return to the methods they'd been employing for decades.

They occupied forts in the mountains around Malatine and began picking off isolated trade caravans,

or unfortunate peasants. Malias, the Stratikos of Lykandos, was the master of this.

He'd covered his territory with castles at every strategic point, ensuring that no one

moved through his realm, without his notice. In 932 John led his army through the mountains

and captured the last few forts which supported Malatine. The city was now all but surrounded by

Roman troops. That summer he assaulted the city's agricultural base. Crops were burnt, vineyards dug

up at animals stolen. The poor peasants fled behind the walls and watched in horror.

That winter, the small garrisons in the surrounding mountains, would descend without warning,

to terrorise the Arab farmers as they attempted to restore their livelihood.

It's a pitiful state, but of course it's one that Byzantine farmers had lived through

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