Greek Muslim admiral decisively defeats the Byzantine navy

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On September 19,866 AD, Byzantine Christian Emperor, Leo VI, was born. Of doubtful paternity, since his mother was the mistress of Emperor Michael III and at the same time the wife of his friend and successor, Emperor Basil the Macedonian, he succeeded to the throne on the latter's suspicious death and ruled for 26 years till his own death in 1912. His reign saw the loss of more territory to the Muslims in both Sicily and in Asia Minor, as well as islands in the Aegean Sea.
The greatest setback for him was in 904, when the Greek Muslim admiral, Raseq al-Wardami, sailing from Syria, took control of Thessalonica, the second largest city of the Byzantium Empire. After a week's stay, during which he seized some 60 ships and forced the Christians to free over 4,000 Muslim prisoners, Raseq sailed back to the Levant. Born as a Christian and named Leo by his parents, Raseq was an officer in the Byzantine navy, before discovering the truth of Islam and joining the Muslims. Also known as Ghulam Zurafa, three years later in 907, he sailed up the Dardanelles and besieged Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, much to the horror of Emperor Leo VI.
In May 912, just before the humiliated Leo VI died, Raseq al-Wardami and his fellow Greek Muslim admiral, Damian of Tarsus, known by his Muslim name, Ghulam Yazman, decisively defeated the Byzantine admiral, Himerios, off the island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, in retaliation for an attack by Christians on the Muslims of Cyprus.