The Levant Egypt North Africa Anatolia & Constantinople Border conflicts Sicily and Southern Italy Naval warfare Byzantine reconquest The Cretan expedition occurred in Autumn 828, where the Byzantine army invaded the island of Crete which was held by the Arabs.

[3][2] In Autumn of 828,[4] the Byzantine emperor, Michael II, dispatched another fleet of 70 ships under the strategos of the Cibyrrhaeots, Craterus.

A bloody and fierce battle ensued on the coast where the Byzantines routed the Arabs, killing and taking many prisoners.

The Byzantines, instead of following up their success, chose to establish their camp and celebrate their victory.

The battle changed the naval balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Arabs made frequent and destructive assaults against the coastlines of the Aegean Sea.