Raids

From the early 7^th century onwards, the island became the target of frequent pirate raids. The first major raid was carried out by Slavs in 620 - 623. Over the following decades, as the focal point of Arab-Byzantine rivalry over control of the Eastern Mediterranean, Crete was subjected to recurrent raids and assaults.

The first Arab attack on the island was probably launched in 654, and was followed by several more. Valuable information is given in the life of Saint Andrew of Crete, primate of the Church of Crete from 712 to 740, which relates the following: "The most impious and well-versed in naval warfare of all the Moslems swept across the sea, setting themselves against the island of Crete with many ships, and fear and trepidation possessed the indigenous population and those in the outlying isles..." (Theocharis Detorakis, History of Crete, trans. J.C. Davis, Heraklion 1994, pp. 133).