The Arab conquest

In the early 9^th century, a revolution centred on Cordoba broke out in the Moorish emirate of Spain. Once this had been quashed, populations involved in the uprising were banished from Spain and went in search of new lands to settle. One such group under Abu Hafs Omar (known to the Byzantines as Apohaps), disembarked at Egypt and took Alexandria in 818. Nevertheless, the reaction of local leaders forced them to look elsewhere. Quite possibly on the advice of the Egyptians, the group then landed on Crete during the reign of Emperor Michael II (820-829). At that time, the Empire was in the throes of a revolutionary movement known as the apostasy of Thomas the Slav. Taking advantage of this favourable turn of events, the Arabs under Abu Hafs conquered the island stage by stage, using the fortified town of Chandax as their base.