 The sources record no major Byzantine external campaigns for 932 , as the Empire was preoccupied with two revolts in the Opsician Theme . In 933 , Kourkouas renewed the attack against Melitene . Mu 'nis al @-@ Muzaffar sent forces to assist the beleaguered city , but in the resulting skirmishes , the Byzantines prevailed and took many prisoners and the Arab army returned home without relieving the city . In early 934 , at the head of 50 @,@ 000 men , Kourkouas again crossed the frontier and marched toward Melitene . The other Muslim states offered no help , preoccupied as they were with the turmoil following Caliph al @-@ Qahir 's deposition . Kourkouas again took Samosata and besieged Melitene . Many of the city 's inhabitants had abandoned it at the news of Kourkouas 's approach and hunger eventually compelled the rest to surrender on 19 May 934 . Wary of the city 's previous rebellions , Kourkouas only allowed those inhabitants to remain who were Christians or agreed to convert to Christianity . Most did so , and he ordered the remainder expelled . Melitene was fully incorporated into the empire , and most of its fertile land was transformed into an imperial estate ( kouratoreia ) . This was an unusual move , implemented by Romanos I to prevent the powerful Anatolian landed aristocracy from taking control of the province . It also served to increase direct imperial presence and control on the crucial new borderlands . 
