The city of Melite, known today as Mdina, was strategically important during the 9th century due to its location in the Mediterranean Sea. The Aghlabid dynasty, which ruled parts of North Africa, sought to expand their territory into Malta, previously under Byzantine control. The siege of Melite was a culmination of these expansionist efforts, as the Aghlabids aimed to secure the island as a base for further operations against the Byzantines and to control trade routes in the region. Over the course of the siege, the Aghlabid army implemented various military strategies, including cutting off supplies to the city and employing siege weapons to breach its fortifications.After weeks of intense pressure, the Byzantine defenders, overwhelmed and suffering from dwindling resources, were compelled to negotiate terms of surrender. The Aghlabid forces, under the command of an unnamed leader, offered amnesty to the residents of Melite and promised protection in exchange for their capitulation. This critical moment in 870 marked the end of Byzantine influence over Malta, as the island was integrated into the growing Islamic realm. The Aghlabids utilized Malta as a naval base for further conquests in the Mediterranean, significantly altering the regional power dynamics for centuries to come.