Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

351 Dimitrios G. Letsios. Leo VI the Wise and the Saracens... disturbed. 1 The use of camels together with the noise of drums and cymbals was a strange situation, out of the experience of the Byzantine troops. Leo rightly observes that this appearance “has often caused the Romans to rush into flight”. 2 Accordingly, especially in waging war against the Saracens of Syria dwelling near Mesopotarnia, the general should take this into consideration and the horses should be used to camels, drums and cymbals, by using them in drillings. 3 Similarmethods have been employed in the recapturing of Theodosioupolis 4 and have been proved successful. The general should learn from these lessons and prepare adequately its army to face the newway of war with the Saracens. The use of Ethiopians as light-armed foot soldiers in front of their cavalry, carrying bows and being irresistible to their opponents when they shoot, seems to be impressive and decisive in the Arab’s way of warfare. 5 Leo does not make any distinction between the Saracens and the other groups, which were attached to the Arab armies and fighting with the Hamdanids of Syria, with the exception of the Ethiopians; other authors draw attention on the differences among various groups, included in those armies, e.g. Bedouins, Turks etc, whichmight appear as Saracens in the sources. 6 To come back to the ‘image’ of the Arabs in the Taktika , Leo stressed that: “They transport their infantry either riding on their own horses or sitting behind the cavalrymen, when the campaign takes place near their country. Theymake use of armament, and their cavalry uses bows, swords, lances, shields, and axes. They wear full armor, including body armor, cuirasses, helmets, shin guards, gauntlets, and all the rest in the 1 Taktika , 18, 106–107, 516–526 (p. 476f). 2 Taktika , 18, 134, 680–681 (p. 488f.): “This tactic has often caused the Romans to rush into flight”. 3 Taktika , 18, 134, 681–685 (pp.488f). 4 A reference to the campaign led by LeoKatakalon in 902. Theodosioupo- lis was again in Arab hands soon after, finally taken only in 949. Cf. Haldon, A Critical Commentary , 382; PmBZ 3639 and 24329; TIB 5, 46f., 56. 5 Taktika 18, 109, 528–530 (p. 476f.). 6 Cf. G. Dagron — H. Mihaescu, Le traité sur la guerilla de l' empereur Nicéphore Phocas , Paris 1986, 179; E. McGeer, Sowing the dragon’s teeth. Byzantine warfare in the tenth century , Washington 1995, 230–242.