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Description
Sketch Theme: Teeming

The Drunken Heroism of Nikephoros Pastilas

In 961 A.D., Byzantine general (and later Emperor) Nikephoros Phokas, led an expedition to reclaim the Isle of Crete from the Andalusian Arabs, who had conquered it in 820. The expedition was successful, and thanks to good logistics and brilliant tactics, Phokas' army steamrolled through the Island without suffering any major defeat. With one minor exception:

Phokas had instructed his men to stay ever vigilant and avoid spreading their forces to loot, lest they be ambushed by the Arabs. One general, by the name Nikephoros Pastilas ignored him, extensively looted the countryside and when the night came, set up a feast and became drunk along with his men. It was at this state that the Saracens ambushed them.

Even in this state of drunkenness though, Pastilas stood his ground and fough bravely, cutting down many Arabs. He was unhorsed and sustained many wounds, but in his stupor, he seemed to have attained a numbness to pain and ignored his wounds, killing on until he lost conciousness due to bloodloss.

At this point the Saracens swarmed him and beheaded him, routing his men. His entire force was wiped out, but a few men made it back to Phokas' camp, bringing with them the tale of the Drunken Hero Pastilas.

Description
Sketch Theme: Teeming

The Drunken Heroism of Nikephoros Pastilas

In 961 A.D., Byzantine general (and later Emperor) Nikephoros Phokas, led an expedition to reclaim the Isle of Crete from the Andalusian Arabs, who had conquered it in 820. The expedition was successful, and thanks to good logistics and brilliant tactics, Phokas' army steamrolled through the Island without suffering any major defeat. With one minor exception:

Phokas had instructed his men to stay ever vigilant and avoid spreading their forces to loot, lest they be ambushed by the Arabs. One general, by the name Nikephoros Pastilas ignored him, extensively looted the countryside and when the night came, set up a feast and became drunk along with his men. It was at this state that the Saracens ambushed them.

Even in this state of drunkenness though, Pastilas stood his ground and fough bravely, cutting down many Arabs. He was unhorsed and sustained many wounds, but in his stupor, he seemed to have attained a numbness to pain and ignored his wounds, killing on until he lost conciousness due to bloodloss.

At this point the Saracens swarmed him and beheaded him, routing his men. His entire force was wiped out, but a few men made it back to Phokas' camp, bringing with them the tale of the Drunken Hero Pastilas.