Byzantine battles were turned by the introduction of a liquid that could burn on water, or under water. The formula has been lost, so we are left guessing what it might have been.

Greek fire was burning liquid used as a weapon by the Byzantine Greeks, especially in naval battles. The formula was a secret and remains so to this day.
Whatever it was, it burned on water. One victim of Greek fire reportedly said, "every time they hurl the fire at us, we go down on our elbows and knees, and beseech Our Lord to save us from this danger."
Records indicate that Greek fire was invented around 670 in Constantinople. Historians believe that it may have been invented by chemists in Constantinople who had inherited the discoveries of the Alexandrian chemical school. The fires could not be put out by pouring water on the flames, instead water served to spread them. This suggests that Greek fire must have been a flammable liquid that floats on water.
Greek fire was often launched with a light catapult. A burning stream of liquid could be aimed at besieging forces; however, it was primarily used in sea battles. Cloth wrapped ball landed on wooden decks, devastating the ship. The key to Greek fire's effectiveness was that it continued burning under almost any conditions, even under water.
Enemy ships were afraid to come too near to the Byzantine fleet, because, once within range, Greek fire gave the Byzantines a strong military advantage. The last recorded use of Greek
Fire was in 1453, after which the secret appears to have been lost. Although similar substances have been invented in the modern age, the exact composition of the original Greek fire is unknown. The effectiveness of Greek fire is indisputable.
Ambiguity surrounds the name. "Greek fire" was named by Western European crusaders in the 13th century.
This was quite some time after production of the weapon in its original form was lost. An original name was Roman fire, since those against whom it was used saw the Byzantines as Roman rather than Greek.
The Byzantines themselves termed the weapon marine fire, or liquid fire.

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