The Battle of the Corinthian Gulf (874 or 879)

The Battle of the Corinthian Gulf is notable not for its naval tactics during combat but for the meticulous preparation that preceded the engagement. The victor managed to transport warships overland via the isthmus that connects the Aegean Sea with the western Peloponnese. How he did it remains a mystery; however, the Byzantine admiral did launch a surprise attack against the Cretan Muslims, who did not have the time and stamina to rally their fleet. While the victory was significant, it was not overwhelming, as Arab warships continued to dominate the Aegean, Ionian, and Adriatic Seas, instilling fear in coastal settlements and posing a persistent danger to enfeebled provinces of the Eastern Roman Empire.