Greek Fire – 672 AD
Greek Fire was developed in 672 AD by the Eastern Roman Empire. The fire went by a number of names by the Byzantines including “sea fire,” “Roman Fire,” and “war fire.” During the Crusades, the term Greek Fire was applied to any sort of incendiary weapon such as the ones used by the Arabs, Mongols, or Chinese.
But the fire that was used by the Byzantines was completely different from these other device,s and it was a closely guarded state secret. The secret of the fire was so closely guarded that it is not even known today. What is known was that the device used pressurized nozzles or some sort of siphon to spray the liquid onto the enemy. Greek fire was most notably used in naval warfare to stop invading Muslim fleets and was very effective because it was able to keep burning even on the water.
The use of Greek fire was able to protect the city of Constantinople from two Arab sieges on the city. It would continue to be used in naval battles against the Saracens, and numerous naval victories were tied to the use of Greek fire. Another reason why the formula for Greek Fire was such a closely guarded secret was because it was necessary to stop not only outside enemies of the state but also rebellion within the state. In 727 and 823, it was successful in defeating rebel fleets who did not have the technology.
Very little is known about Greek Fire and its composition today even though there are some theories. What is known was that it created a great deal of smoke and was accompanied by “thunder.” It was ignited by water and burned on water. The only way to put it out was with sand, vinegar, or old urine. Some theorists believe that Greek Fire was made with saltpeter as the main ingredient, while others believe that it was quicklime.