The situation was complicated by a civil war in Armenia, effectively a 'buffer state' between the Romans in Anatolia and their Arab enemies. This was fought between two claimants of the Bagratid dynasty, both named Ashot. One of the claimants was supported by the Romans, the other by the Arabs.
After several years of heavy fighting, the Roman-backed claimant, Ashot Yerkat (the Iron), triumphed over his rival. He was then recognised by the Caliph of Baghdad, who awarded him the title 'King of Kings'. This upset his former Roman allies, who had wanted to use Ashot to enforce their own power in Armenia, not that of the Islamic Caliphate.
As a result, the emperor sent his Domestic, John Curcuras, to support the Armenian rebels and bring the country under Roman influence. At first Curcuras did well, and briefly captured the city of Samasota (now Samsat in southeast Turkey). Here, his soldiers scandalised the local Muslims by banging a gong in the mosque during the prayer hour. The arrival of Arab reinforcements obliged the Romans to evacuate the town and withdraw.
The Arabs in turn counter-attacked with a raid from Tarsus, but were defeated. Later in the year Curcuras re-entered Armenia and attacked the city of Dvin, defended by Ashot and his Arab allies.
Curcuras was unable to take the city, but returned for a second bite at the cherry. This time he used Greek Fire against the defenders, and managed to breach the walls and occupy part of the city. However, his troops were forced out by the civilian populace, as well as the combined Arab and Armenian garrison. After taking heavy losses, the Domestic was forced to retreat a second time.
Curcuras switched to attacking Muslim towns in southern Armenia. He captured Khelat on Lake Van, in the far east of modern Turkey, where the inhabitants were ordered to place a cross over their mosques and destroy the minarets. The Muslims of the neighbouring towns repeatedly begged the Caliph at Baghdad for aid, but none came. As a result many of them abandoned the province. The Domestic was then forced to retreat (again) before an Arab relief army, led by a ruler of Azerbaijan.
For all his military skill, Curcuras encountered serious problems in Armenia. He took a number of cities, but was unable to hold onto them for very long. This was, apparently, because the mixed population of Christian Armenians and Muslim Arabs didn't want to be governed by the Romans. In the face of such determined resistance, there wasn't much the Domestic could hope to achieve.
His master, Romanos I, was wise enough to realise this. When the Caliphate in Azerbaijan collapsed into civil war, the emperor took the opportunity to evacuate his troops from Armenia. This in turn meant he could focus on his far greater interest: the former Roman provinces in Syria.
(Attached is an image of the use of Greek Fire in a naval battle)
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