The first capture of Buza'a had been by force, but the Byzantines were driven away. After a time, they captured the town again by capitualtion, promising safety to the inhabitants, then breaking their promise by imposing forced conversion on the Muslim population, in exchange for life or freedom. As a result, ore than 500 people became Christians, among them the judge and the notaries; the road to the city was cut off, so that one had to enter via Balis