كتاب نقفور وغزوة هرقلة

كتاب نقفور وغزوة هرقلة

تقریباً 802 عیسوی · 187 ھ

In year 187 a letter reached al-Rashid from Nikephoros, king of the Romans, repudiating the truce made with Empress Irene: 'she set you as the rook and herself as the pawn, carrying you loads of her wealth from women's weakness — restore what reached you or the sword is between us.' Al-Rashid raged and wrote on the letter's back: 'from Harun, Commander of the Faithful, to Nikephoros, dog of the Romans: I have read your letter, son of the infidel woman — the answer is what you will see, not what you will hear.' He marched that day to Heraclea — a witnessed conquest — and Nikephoros sued for peace at yearly tribute; but on the caliph's return to Raqqa he broke faith, trusting winter, and al-Rashid turned back in hardship until he camped before his city and took his prize ¹.