Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

320 IV. Ближний Восток и его соседи The description of the use of Greek fire against the warships of Thomas manifests the extensive devastation of the Byzantine thematic fleet which was completely annihilated and thus opened theway for theAndalusians’ fleet that consisted of only forty ships constructed in Egypt. In the next illumination of “The Cycle of the Conquest of Crete” (fig. 81, fol. 38v), three Andalusian ships appear sailing in the Aegean Sea. The caption reports that, in addition to the Andalusians, the warships also carried other people who joined them, but Tsamakda correctly reports that “this is not justified by the text [of Skylitzes]”, 1 since the Arabic sources report that the Andalusians were not permitted to take any Egyptians with them. 2 The warships depicted in this illumi- nation are simplified. Oncemore we notice that the helmsman uses two steering rudders while each oar is manned by one oarsman. According to the Arabic sources, the Andalusian fleet carried the armed male population along with their families, but our illumination solely depicts armed soldiers dressed in the same way as the Andalusian suppliants appeared in front of the emir in the previously described illumination. Only their leader Abu Hafş (’Απόχαψ) seems to be standing in one of the warships, clad in a blue tunic. The determination of the Andalusians to secure a permanent settle- ment on the rich island of Crete is clearly shown in a legend described by Skylitzes and reproduced by the painter of the SkM. According to this legend, the Andalusians’ leader Abu Hafs ordered the burning of their ships to discourage any attempt of retreat. In the illumination fig. 82, fol. 39r, Abu Hafş is depicted in front of a hill, dressed in his ordinary military attire, sitting in a small chair and watching the burning of his ships. Next to him two of his soldiers, one carrying a lance and the other a sword, gesture with surprise for this event, while four workers set the three ships on fire. The Byzantines’ reaction to the Andalusians’ raid and the estab- lishment of a military base in Handax by the Arabs was immediately confronted but carelessly organized. Since the thematic fleet was devas- tated, they sent a fleet from Constantinople under the protospatharios 1 Tsamakda, op. cit. 79. 2 Christides, The Conquest of Crete by the Arabs , op. cit. 89–90.