{"slug": "greek-fire", "label": "Greek fire", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_fire", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179537", "qid": "Q179537", "description": "incendiary weapon used by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire developed c. 672", "entries": 8, "years": 8, "span": [515, 1219], "span_label": ["515 CE", "1219 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 7}, {"title": "Disasters & Accidents", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "byzantine-navy", "label": "Byzantine navy", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "constantinople", "label": "Constantinople", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "greece", "label": "Greece", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "leo-iii-the-isaurian", "label": "Leo III the Isaurian", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "michael-ii", "label": "Michael II", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "byzantine-army", "label": "Byzantine army", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "anastasius-i-dicorus", "label": "Anastasius I Dicorus", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "teutonic-order", "label": "Teutonic Order", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "arabs", "label": "Arabs", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "muawiyah-i", "label": "Muawiyah I", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "constantine-iv", "label": "Constantine IV", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "yazid-i", "label": "Yazid I", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 515, "year_label": "515 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Anastasius I gives Marinus, former praetorian prefect of the East, command over the Byzantine army. He defeats the rebel fleet at the harbor entrance, using a sulfur-based chemical substance, similar to the later Greek fire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364754462#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "515", "revid": 1364754462, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 678, "year_label": "678 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Autumn – Siege of Constantinople: Emperor Constantine IV confronts the Arab besiegers in a head-on engagement. The Byzantine fleet, equipped with Greek fire, destroys the Muslim fleet at Sillyon, ending the Arab threat to Europe, and forcing Yazid (a son of caliph Muawiyah I) to lift the siege on land and sea. The victory also frees up forces that are sent to raise the two-year siege of Thessalonica by the local Slavic tribes.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1352010309#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "678", "revid": 1352010309, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 717, "year_label": "717 CE", "section": "Disasters & Accidents", "date": "September 1", "text": "September 1 – A Muslim armada, consisting of 1,800 ships commanded by Admiral Suleiman, sails into the Sea of Marmara and drops anchor below the sea walls of Constantinople, to supply their forces ashore. Leo III orders the Byzantine fleet to sally forth from their protected harbors with Greek fire, setting alight the thickly-packed Muslim ships. Many vessels burst into flames, while others collide with each other before sinking.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340808622#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "717", "revid": 1340808622, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 727, "year_label": "727 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "A revolt breaks out in Greece against the religious policies of Emperor Leo III (see 726). A rebel fleet under Agallianos Kontoskeles sets out for Constantinople with Kosmas, an anti-emperor, but is destroyed by the Byzantine fleet through the use of Greek fire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372352645#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "AD 727", "revid": 1372352645, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 822, "year_label": "822 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine general and usurper Thomas the Slav continues his revolt against Emperor Michael II. He unsuccessfully besieges Constantinople, while his fleet is destroyed by Michael's fleet, using Greek fire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1267074664#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "822", "revid": 1267074664, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 919, "year_label": "919 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Langshan Jiang: The Wuyue navy (500 dragon ships) under Prince Qian Yuanguan who is preparing an invasion to attack the Wu Kingdom, defeats the naval forces of General Peng Yanzhang on the Yangtze River. Due to the use of flamethrower ships (using gunpowder to ignite petrol, like Greek fire) Qian Yuanguan manages to destroy 400 enemy ships and captures 7,000 prisoners.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1341509579#China", "title": "919", "revid": 1341509579, "section": "Events › By Place › China"}}, {"year": 1190, "year_label": "1190 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "May 5", "text": "May 5 – Siege of Acre: A Crusader force under King Guy of Lusignan attacks the city with three siege engines, but all are destroyed by the Muslim defenders with Greek fire, a highly flammable liquid. An Egyptian flotilla is able to avoid the Pisan fleet (some 50 ships) and resupply the city with new provisions. Saladin launches a massive eight-day attack on the Crusaders two weeks later. Meanwhile, in the Crusader camp the conditions are deteriorating by disease and famine, among the soldiers.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368650742#Third_Crusade", "title": "1190", "revid": 1368650742, "section": "Events › By place › Third Crusade"}}, {"year": 1219, "year_label": "1219 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "July 8", "text": "July 8 – Pelagius begins multiple attacks at Damietta, using Pisan and Venetian troops. Each time they are repelled by the defenders, using Greek fire. A counter-offensive led by Al-Kamil on the Templar camp is repulsed on July 31 by their new Grand Master Peire de Montagut, supported by the Teutonic Knights – where the Crusaders reform and pursue the enemy outside the gates.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1345005371#Fifth_Crusade", "title": "1219", "revid": 1345005371, "section": "Events › By place › Fifth Crusade"}}]}