Then he dictated a letter to Nicephorus, in which he said:
"Harun-al-Rashid, Commander of the Faithful to Nicephorus, the Roman
dog: I have read thy letter. Thou shalt not hear, thou shalt SEE
my reply."
Harun was as good as his word. He started that day with a large
army to punish the emperor. As soon as he reached Roman territory
he ravaged the country and took possession of everything valuable
that he found. He laid siege to Heraclea (Her-a-cle'-a), a city on
the shores of the Black Sea, and in a week forced it to surrender.
Then he sacked the place.
Nicephorus was now forced to agree to pay the tribute. Scarcely,
however, had the caliph reached his palace in Bagdad when the
emperor again refused to pay.
Harun, consequently, advanced into the Roman province of Phrygia,
in Asia Minor, with an army of 15,000 men. Nicepherus marched
against him with 125,000 men. In the battle which followed the
emperor was wounded, and 40,000 of his men were killed.
After this defeat Nicephorus again promised payment of the tribute,
but again failed to keep his promise.
Harun now vowed that he would kill the emperor if he should ever
lay hands upon him.
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