Arab rule

Byzantine inability to defend the island adequately against pirate raids attracted the attention of a large band of Arabs from Spain, who landed on Crete and conquered it step by step. A new state of affairs came about on the island. Failed Byzantine attempts to retake the island indicate that the Arab Emirate of Crete ("Ikritis", as the island is named by Muslim historians) was powerful, well organised and prosperous. Activities such as metalworking, pottery and ceramics thrived, and the Emirate was in a position to mint its own coins.

The capital of the new state was Kastro, then re-named Rabdh el Khandak, or "fortress of the moat"), on account of the deep ditch surrounding the town.

At the same time, with Chandax as a centre, the island became a lair for Arab raiders who set about plundering the Aegean islands and the shores of Greece. Indicative of this is the fact that that Byzantine texts from the period refer to Crete as "God-accursed". The intensity of pirate raids forced the Byzantines to retake the island. Six unsuccessful campaigns were waged prior to 949, resulting in heavy casualties and financial loss for the Byzantine state.