Christians in Arab Malta (3) : the reconquest of Malta by the Byzantines in 982

Abstract

In my previous article, I discussed Al Athir’s account on how, two years after Malta fell into Arab hands, a strong Byzantine army returned to conquer the island. After the devastation that the conquest of 868 provoked, the Arabs proceeded to fortify the main city of the island. Within two years, the new structure was strong enough to hold out against an invading Byzantine Army until a relief force arrived from North Africa which, in Al Athir’s words, forced the Byzantines to flee.