Siege of Taormina (962)

The Siege of Taormina in 962 was a significant event in the Byzantine-Arab Wars, marking the culmination of a renewed Byzantine offensive to reclaim Sicily from the Fatimid Caliphate. Taormina, a strategically important city on the eastern coast of Sicily, had been a Byzantine stronghold before falling to the Arabs in 902.

In 962, a large Byzantine army, led by Niketas, launched a major campaign to retake the island. The siege of Taormina was a key part of this effort. The Byzantine forces, utilizing both land and naval power, invested the city. The Fatimid garrison, under the command of Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Kalbi, offered fierce resistance.

The siege was protracted and marked by heavy fighting. The Byzantines employed siege engines and attempted to breach the city walls. The Fatimids, despite being outnumbered, defended the city resolutely, utilizing both conventional military tactics and unconventional methods to harass the besiegers.

Ultimately, after a period of intense struggle, the Byzantine forces prevailed and captured Taormina. The victory was a significant boost to Byzantine morale and solidified their control over a portion of northeastern Sicily. This conquest allowed the Byzantines to establish a firm foothold from which to launch further campaigns against the remaining Arab territories on the island. However, the Byzantine resurgence was ultimately short-lived, as later events would demonstrate. Despite this temporary setback for the Fatimids, they eventually reasserted their dominance over the entire island.