858:. The Sassanid and Byzantine light infantry exchanged fire resulting in minor casualties on each side. As Procopius describes, "At first, then, both sides discharged arrows against each other, and the missiles by their great number made, as it were, a vast cloud; and many men were falling on both sides, but the missiles of the barbarians flew much more thickly. For fresh men were always fighting in turn, affording to their enemy not the slightest opportunity to observe what was being done; but even so the Romans did not have the worst of it. For a steady wind blew from their side against the barbarians, and checked to a considerable degree the force of their arrows." Depending on the source, either the Persians got the best of the Romans, the fight was fairly equal or the Persians suffered more. Then the Persians formed two lines: the right flank under Pityaxes and the left under Baresmanas.
847:
Andreas. Andreas, who had been secretly training with
Belisarius' own household troopers, killed not only this Persian champion, but also a second challenger later in the day. The Persians then withdrew to Ammodius for the night. Some authors, however, have expressed doubt as to the pure historicity of Procopius' account and state that while instances of single combat did likely occur during the course of the battle, Procopius' description is intended to be a narrative device rather than a factual account. Another source, believed to be based on official documents, does indeed reference individual combat, but makes no mention of Andreas and, furthermore, places any single combat engagements at a different stage of the battle.
851:
have even a small share of reason. ... The best general, therefore, is that one which is able to bring about peace from war." The letter either fell on deaf ears or
Perozes already wanted to negotiate which eventually failed, the battle resumed. The Persians already thought of the Byzantine army as a second-rate army; this letter, along with his numerical superiority, likely made Perozes even more confident of victory. In his book on Belisarius, Brogna merely says that Belisarius sent the letter because of his good moral character. Mahon claims in his book that Belisarius doubted his chance of victory and this is why he sent the letter.
37:
719:
872:, also known as the Immortals, who were the elite Persian armored lancers. The Byzantine cavalry and infantry defending the ditch were pushed back here as they had been on the left. But Belisarius counterattacked with his reserve Bucellari cavalry, and split the Persian troops in two. Half the Persians pursued the Byzantine cavalry, but the rest were trapped, and
864:
The first wave of the
Persian attack was directed against the Byzantine left flank. The Persians forced a crossing of the ditch, pushing back the Byzantine cavalry. But the intervention of Sunicas' Huns attacking from the interior of the Byzantine line, as well as Pharas' Herulians attacking out of
850:
After the first day of skirmishes, Belisarius sent a letter to the
Persian commander. Rather than fight a battle, he believed it was best to avoid conflict and instead insisted that their disputes be settled by discussion. The letter read, "The first blessing is peace, as is agreed by all men who
1321:
Christopher
Lillington-Martin, "Archaeological and Ancient Literary Evidence for a Battle near Dara Gap, Turkey, AD 530: Topography, Texts & Trenches", British Archaeological Reports (BAR) –S1717, 2007 The Late Roman Army in the Near East from Diocletian to the Arab Conquest Proceedings of a
846:
On the first day, according to
Procopius, there was no general engagement, but instead a series of challenge fights between champions of both sides. One particular combat involved a Persian knight, who challenged Belisarius to single combat; but was instead met by a Byzantine bath slave named
799:
two years earlier. These were pushed forward on either flank of his position, while his center was refused back. Here he placed his unreliable infantry behind the center ditch, being placed close enough to the walls of the fortress to provide supporting fire from the city
790:
away from the town of Daras and drew up their battle lines. Despite being outnumbered, Belisarius decided to give battle. He dug a number of ditches to block the
Persian cavalry, leaving gaps between them to allow a counterattack. According to
876:
was killed along with 5,000 other men. The
Byzantine cavalry also recovered and routed their pursuers. Belisarius allowed a pursuit for a few miles, but let the majority of Persian survivors escape.
331:
750:. Justin agreed, but on the terms that he would do so only in a rite reserved for barbarians. This failed to satisfy Kavadh, who attacked Byzantine allies, so Justin sent his generals
1095:
1322:
colloquium held at
Potenza, Acerenza and Matera, Italy (May 2005) edited by Ariel S. Lewin and Pietrina Pellegrini with the aid of Zbigniew T. Fiema and Sylvain Janniard.
897:
started another invasion, this time, unexpectedly, via
Commagene. Belisarius foiled their plan by swift maneuvering and forced the Persians, who were retreating, into a
251:
1387:
324:
804:. On the left and right flanks were the Byzantine cavalry, of questionable quality. Supporting them on their interior flanks were small bodies of Huns: 300
901:
in which the Byzantines were defeated, but with heavy casualties on both sides. The Byzantines eventually paid tributes in exchange for a peace treaty.
317:
861:
At this time of the day the temperature of the region has been estimated to have been particularly hot, probably around 45 °C (113 °F).
1397:
1327:
1279:
1173:
920:
took control of the empire until Justin died in 578. Meanwhile, the Persians were able to march further into the empire, but Khosrau died in
244:
1103:
1407:
671:
1254:
429:
1343:
1214:
1061:
1119:
771:
237:
133:
444:
634:
508:
533:
735:
619:
1402:
553:
548:
483:
386:
298:
397:
954:
captured it, and it remained in their hands until 942 when it was sacked by the Byzantines. It was sacked again by
434:
624:
639:
585:
461:
742:. The Iberian king fled from Kavadh, but Kavadh tried to make peace with the Byzantines, and attempted to have
563:
149:
1392:
917:
580:
568:
488:
424:
951:
590:
376:
288:
707:
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538:
478:
161:
654:
1412:
935:
898:
629:
614:
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409:
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381:
293:
1417:
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747:
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528:
498:
361:
273:
137:
767:
731:
543:
523:
419:
366:
278:
60:
1107:
1323:
1275:
1250:
1210:
1169:
1111:
1067:
1057:
927:
835:
710:'s account of this engagement is among the most detailed descriptions of a late Roman battle.
644:
558:
513:
473:
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439:
1099:
1029:
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693:
503:
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414:
178:
94:
36:
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111:
64:
1247:
Rome Resurgent: War and Empire in the Age of Justinian (Ancient Warfare and Civilization)
1086:
778:, who set up camp about five kilometers away at Ammodius, in the near vicinity of Dara.
1188:
Whately, Connor. "Battles and Generals: Combat, Culture, and Didacticism in Procopius'
787:
739:
1376:
942:. This time, the Persians destroyed the city, but the Byzantines later rebuilt it in
868:
The Persians then attacked the Byzantine right wing, where Perozes sent the Sassanid
454:
449:
141:
1382:
792:
393:
718:
801:
763:
701:
354:
342:
261:
28:
873:
830:
755:
174:
129:
98:
1358:
1345:
1115:
1071:
1297:
1033:
913:
905:
890:
602:
774:
and an army; Kavadh answered with another 10,000 troops under the general
894:
869:
854:
On the second day of the battle, 10,000 more Persian troops arrived from
743:
170:
115:
908:, who was unable to take it either time. Khosrau finally captured it in
812:
and Aigan supporting the left; and as many more Huns on the right under
786:
The Persians, outnumbering the Romans by 15,000 men, deployed around 20
886:
855:
809:
775:
166:
145:
309:
865:
ambush from the opposite side, forced the Persians' wing to retreat.
828:
in ambush position off his left flank. A reserve composed of his own
821:
813:
751:
666:
153:
102:
68:
817:
770:. The next year, Belisarius was sent back to the region alongside
717:
157:
106:
1153:. Pickle Partners Publishing. pp. Chapter 3, page 6 of 17.
313:
233:
1020:
Charles, Michael (1 January 2011). "The Sassanian immortals".
959:
947:
943:
939:
931:
921:
834:
household cavalry was held behind his center and commanded by
805:
759:
727:
229:
1311:. Stanford (California): Stanford University Press, 1997.
726:
The Byzantine Empire was at war with the Sasanians from
766:
prompted a Sasanian expedition of 40,000 men towards
1096:
United States Army Command and General Staff College
934:
and recaptured the fortress, but the Persians under
758:
into Persia, where they were initially defeated. In
916:to go insane. Justin's wife Sophia and his friend
795:, the tactic was adopted from the Persians at the
1200:
1198:
762:, the failed negotiations of Justin's successor
21:
1094:(Master of Military Art and Science thesis).
838:, his trusted lieutenant and boyhood friend.
325:
245:
211:(originally 40,000 men before reinforcements)
8:
1166:Byzantium and the Arabs in the Sixth Century
700:in 530 AD. It was one of the battles of the
722:Ruins of Justinian's fortifications at Dara
1309:History of the Byzantine State and Society
976:
974:
962:, but the Byzantines never recaptured it.
884:Following the defeat, the Sasanians under
332:
318:
310:
252:
238:
230:
18:
1054:Belisarius : the last Roman general
970:
1274:. John Wiley & Sons. p. 544.
1125:from the original on 17 January 2021.
7:
1144:
1142:
1140:
1138:
1136:
1134:
1132:
1104:Defense Technical Information Center
1047:
1045:
1043:
904:In 540 and 544 Dara was attacked by
1337:. London: G. Bell & Sons, 1929.
912:; its fall was said to have caused
820:. Belisarius also placed a body of
1388:Battles of the Roman–Sasanian Wars
1318:. Stroud: The History Press, 2008.
14:
930:defeated the Persians at Dara in
16:Battle of the Iberian War, 530 AD
35:
1168:. Dumbarton Oaks. p. 78.
1:
1272:A Companion to the Roman Army
1151:The Generalship Of Belisarius
1088:The Generalship of Belisarius
1398:530s in the Byzantine Empire
1205:Caesarea, Procopius (2018).
1249:. Oxford University Press.
938:defeated the Byzantines in
893:together with their client
645:Onoguris (3rd Archaeopolis)
1434:
1408:History of Mardin Province
899:heavy battle at Callinicum
1230:Stanhope, Philip (1829).
1052:Hughes, Ian (Historian).
350:
269:
215:
188:
123:
88:
43:
34:
26:
1149:Brogna, Anthony (1995).
1085:Brogna, Anthony (1995).
1304:, book I, chapter xiii.
1245:Heather, Peter (2018).
1034:10.2143/IA.46.0.2084423
734:had tried to force the
692:was fought between the
575:Sasanian war of 540–562
1270:Erdkamp, Paul (2011).
1164:Shahid, Irfan (1995).
723:
124:Commanders and leaders
1192:". Brill, 2015, p. 75
730:, supposedly because
721:
216:Casualties and losses
162:al-Harith ibn Jabalah
918:Tiberius Constantine
694:Eastern Roman Empire
435:Babosis and Zerboule
221:Fewer than 5,000 men
1403:6th century in Iran
1359:37.1800°N 40.9550°E
1355: /
1333:B.H. Liddell Hart,
1302:History of the Wars
1207:History of the Wars
797:Battle of Thannuris
1330:. (pages 299–311).
1316:The Byzantine Wars
1307:Warren Treadgold,
1008:The Byzantine Wars
995:The Byzantine Wars
982:The Byzantine Wars
724:
667:Conquest of Spania
1328:978-1-4073-0161-7
1281:978-1-4443-9376-7
1209:. Seltzer Books.
1175:978-0-88402-214-5
836:John the Armenian
685:
684:
307:
306:
228:
227:
84:
83:
80:Byzantine victory
1425:
1370:
1369:
1367:
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1364:37.1800; 40.9550
1360:
1356:
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1100:Fort Leavenworth
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1011:
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978:
956:John I Tzimiskes
640:2nd Archaeopolis
635:Telephis–Ollaria
625:1st Archaeopolis
345:
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95:Byzantine Empire
45:
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19:
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1022:Iranica Antiqua
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672:Anastasian Wall
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201:10,000 infantry
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173:
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118:
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112:Sasanian Empire
105:
101:
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72:
65:Mardin Province
17:
12:
11:
5:
1431:
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1393:530s conflicts
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1256:978-0199362745
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824:cavalry under
808:cavalry under
783:
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746:adopt his son
715:
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690:Battle of Dara
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22:Battle of Dara
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1080:
1056:. Barnsley.
1053:
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1021:
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1002:
994:
989:
981:
952:Muslim Arabs
926:
903:
885:
883:
867:
863:
860:
853:
849:
845:
829:
793:Irfan Shahid
785:
740:Zoroastrians
725:
706:
689:
687:
601:
600:
554:Sena Gallica
398:Moorish Wars
394:Vandalic War
387:Martyropolis
371:
299:Martyropolis
283:
195:
194:
180:
89:Belligerents
27:Part of the
1413:Iberian War
1362: /
1028:: 289–313.
1006:J. Haldon,
993:J. Haldon,
980:J. Haldon,
802:battlements
702:Iberian War
355:Iberian War
343:Justinian I
262:Iberian War
67:, southern
51:June 530 AD
29:Iberian War
1418:Belisarius
1377:Categories
1350:40°57′18″E
1347:37°10′48″N
1232:Belisarius
1106:. p.
936:Khosrau II
874:Baresmanas
831:bucellarii
782:Deployment
772:Hermogenes
756:Belisarius
738:to become
714:Background
586:Sisauranon
534:2nd Naples
499:Urviventus
479:1st Naples
462:Gothic War
410:Tricamarum
405:Ad Decimum
382:Callinicum
294:Callinicum
224:8,000+ men
209:50,000 men
196:25,000 men
175:Baresmanas
134:Hermogenes
130:Belisarius
99:Ghassanids
1298:Procopius
1116:227839393
1072:903161296
966:Citations
914:Justin II
906:Khosrau I
891:Azarethes
880:Aftermath
764:Justinian
708:Procopius
698:Sasanians
677:Melantias
620:3rd Petra
615:2nd Petra
610:1st Petra
603:Lazic War
569:Volturnus
529:Mucellium
362:Thannuris
274:Thannuris
1335:Strategy
1120:Archived
895:Lakhmids
870:Zhayedan
744:Justin I
736:Iberians
732:Kavadh I
696:and the
549:3rd Rome
544:2nd Rome
524:Faventia
489:Ariminum
484:1st Rome
469:Panormus
445:Sufetula
430:Membresa
425:Carthage
420:Bourgaon
367:Mindouos
341:Wars of
279:Mindouos
189:Strength
171:Pityaxes
119:Kadiseni
116:Lakhmids
56:Location
1292:Sources
1010:, 31–32
928:Maurice
887:Spahbod
856:Nisibis
810:Sunicas
776:Perozes
748:Khosrau
655:Tzacher
581:Nisibis
559:Taginae
539:Otranto
514:Treviso
509:Ravenna
504:Auximus
494:Urbinus
474:Scardon
440:Cillium
181:†
167:Perozes
146:Sunicas
1326:
1278:
1253:
1213:
1172:
1114:
1070:
1060:
842:Battle
826:Pharas
822:Heruli
814:Simmas
788:stades
752:Sittas
650:Phasis
630:Cotais
596:Edessa
591:Anglon
519:Verona
415:Mammes
377:Satala
289:Satala
177:
154:Simmas
138:Pharas
103:Heruli
77:Result
69:Turkey
1123:(PDF)
1110:–41.
1092:(PDF)
946:. In
818:Ascan
661:Other
450:Marta
158:Ascan
150:Aigan
1324:ISBN
1276:ISBN
1251:ISBN
1211:ISBN
1190:wars
1170:ISBN
1112:OCLC
1068:OCLC
1058:ISBN
997:, 31
984:, 29
950:the
816:and
768:Dara
754:and
688:The
396:and
372:Dara
284:Dara
107:Huns
61:Dara
48:Date
1383:530
1030:doi
960:958
958:in
948:639
944:628
940:604
932:586
922:579
910:573
806:Hun
760:529
728:527
1379::
1300:,
1197:^
1131:^
1118:.
1108:29
1102::
1098:,
1066:.
1042:^
1026:46
1024:.
973:^
924:.
704:.
1284:.
1259:.
1234:.
1219:.
1178:.
1074:.
1036:.
1032::
333:e
326:t
319:v
253:e
246:t
239:v
71:)
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