Nikephoros's Letter and the Expedition to Heraclea

In 187 AH a letter reached al-Rashid from Nikephoros, king of the Romans, breaking the truce that had been agreed with the queen Irene. al-Rashid answered with a harsh letter and marched into the land of the Romans. ²

In his letter Nikephoros demanded that al-Rashid return the queen's wealth that had come into his hands, or else the sword would stand between them. He wrote that the queen had made al-Rashid the rook and herself the pawn. ²

al-Rashid grew angry and wrote a harsh reply on the back of the letter. He set out the same day and reached the city of Heraclea. The source describes this as a celebrated raid and a clear conquest. Nikephoros asked for a truce and undertook to pay an annual tribute, and this was granted. ²

When al-Rashid returned to al-Raqqa, Nikephoros broke the covenant, believing that al-Rashid would not come back in the cold. al-Rashid turned back in great hardship until he reached his own territory. ²