Pope Sergius’s death in 701 had ended…

Justinian considers himself sufficiently strong, after three years of preparation, to invade Bulgaria and restore his rule over the Zagora lands.

An imperial force reaches the Anchialus fortress and sets their camp there unaware of the fact that the Bulgarian army is in the vicinity.

While the invaders are gathering food, Tervel and his cavalry charge the outermost imperial troops.

At the same time, the infantry attacks the camp.

The imperial troops are surprised and confused; most of them perish in the battle or are captured as well as many horses and arms.

The emperor is one of the very few who manage to reach the fortress and escape to Constantinople on a ship.

The Bulgarians secure the new territorial gains for centuries.

Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik is the son of the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (reigned 685–705) and half-brother of the caliphs al-Walid I (r. 705–715), Sulayman (r. 715–717), Yazid II (r. 720–724) and Hisham (r. 724–743).

Maslama himself had been excluded from the line of succession as his mother was an enslaved woman.

He is first mentioned as leading, along with his nephew al-'Abbas ibn al-Walid, the annual summer campaign (ṣawā'if) against the Empire in 705.

His first major expedition is the 707–708 campaign against the imperial city of Tyana in southeastern Asia Minor, which had been launched in retaliation for the defeat and death of the distinguished general Maimun the Mardaite the year before.

The siege lasts through winter and the Arab army faces great hardship, but after the Arabs defeat an imperial relief force in spring 708, the city surrenders.

A few months later, in the summer, …

…Maslama leads another expedition into Asia Minor and defeats an imperial army near Amorium.

The Founding of Mont-Saint-Michel

In 708, Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, establishes a Benedictine abbey on a rocky islet in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, about one mile (1.6 km) off the northwest coast of France in the English Channel. The abbey, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, soon becomes a major religious center and an important site of pilgrimage in medieval Europe.

Over the centuries, Mont-Saint-Michel evolves into a remarkable architectural marvel, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles as it expands. Its strategic location makes it both a revered monastic sanctuary and a fortified stronghold, resisting sieges, including those during the Hundred Years’ War.

Today, Mont-Saint-Michel stands as one of France’s most iconic landmarks, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its dramatic silhouette rising above the tidal flats, it attracts over three million visitors annually, continuing its legacy as a place of both historical and spiritual significance.

Qutayba’s campaign of 708 had also been a failure, which had drawn the ire of al-Hajjaj.

For 709, al-Hajjaj draws up a new plan for his subordinate: the Arabs launch a direct attack on Bukhara, which catches the alliance—possibly weakened by the death of its leader, the Wardan Khudah—by surprise.

The city is taken by storm, a tribute of two hundred thousand dirhams imposed, and an Arab garrison installed.

In its direct aftermath, Tarkhun, the ruler of Samarkand, sends envoys to Qutayba and becomes a tributary vassal to the Caliphate.

The Hephthalite princes of Tokharistan rebel against the Arabs later in the year, but are swiftly subdued by Qutayba.

The Khorasanian garrisons also conquer Tashkent, …

…Samarkand, …

…Khwarezm, and …

…Fergana.

This success is followed, however, by the rebellion in the autumn of 709 of much of Lower Tokharistan under Nizak of Badhgis, with the support of the principalities of Yalqan and Faryab, and the city of Balkh.

In an effort to raise the entire region in revolt, Nizak also forces the nominal suzerain of Tokharistan, the Yabghu, to join the uprising.

The year is too advanced for a direct confrontation and the Muslim levy-based army mostly disbands, but Qutayba orders his brother Abd al-Rahman to take the garrison of Merv, some twelve thousand men, and head to Balkh to secure the Muslim position there.

This move proves effective in discouraging the rebellion of more local princes.