 The first Byzantine encounter with Sayf al @-@ Dawla took place in 936 , when he tried to relieve Samosata , but a revolt at home forced him to turn back . In another invasion in 938 , however , he captured the fort of <unk> and defeated Kourkouas 's advance guard , seizing a great amount of booty and forcing Kourkouas to withdraw . In the same year , a peace agreement was signed between Constantinople and the Caliphate . The negotiations were facilitated by the rising power of the Hamdanids , which caused anxiety to both sides . Despite the official peace with the Caliphate , ad hoc warfare continued between the Byzantines and the local Muslim rulers , now aided by the Hamdanids . The Byzantines attempted to besiege Theodosiopolis in 939 , but the siege was abandoned at the news of the approach of Sayf al @-@ Dawla 's relief army . 
