In 860, a fleet of 200 Rus' ships launched a surprise raid on Constantinople
A massive fleet of 200 Rus' vessels descended upon the unsuspecting suburbs of Constantinople in 860, marking a terrifying first encounter between the emerging northern power and the Byzantine Empire.
In early summer 860, the citizens of Constantinople were paralyzed by the sight of 200 Rus' ships sailing into the Bosporus. With the Byzantine Emperor and his army away fighting Arabs, the city's outskirts were left defenseless against the raiders. The attackers pillaged homes and monasteries, leaving a trail of destruction that horrified the Orthodox world.
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