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thyreos

Byzantine Battles

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Abydos, 989
Ad Decimum, 533
Ad Salices, 377
Adramyttium, 1205
Adrianople, 324
Adrianople, 378
Adrianople, 813
Adrianople, 1254
Adrianople, 1369
Ajnadayn, 634
Akroinos, 740
Aleppo, 637
Aleppo, 962
Aleppo, 969
Alexandretta, 971
Altava, 578
Alexandria, 641
Amida, 502-503
Amida, 359
Amida, 973
Amorium, 838
Anchialus, 708
Anchialus, 763
Anchialus, 917
Andrassus, 960
Ani, 1064
Anthidon, 634
Antioch, 540
Antioch, 611
Antioch, 969
Antioch on Meander, 1211
Anzen, 838
Apadna, 503
Apamea, 998
Apros, 1305
Apulia, 1155
Aquae Saravenae, 979
Araxes, 589
Arcadiopolis, 970
Arcadiopolis, 1194
Ariminum, 538
Arzamon, 586
Attalia, 1207
Aurasium, 540
Auximus, 539
Azaz, 1030
Babylon, Egypt, 640
Balathista, 1014
Bapheus, 1302
Bargylus, 634
Bari, 1068-1071
Bathys Ryax, 872
Berat, 1281
Veroï, 1122
Balarathos, 591
Bar, 1042
Berzitia, 774
Bitola, 1015
Ganzaka, 591
Bosporus, 1352
Boulgarophygon, 896
Bourgaon, 535
Brindisi, 1156
Brocade, 634
Bursa, 1317-1326
Busta Gallorum, 552
Calavrye, 1079
Callinicum, 531
Campus Ardiensis, 316
Cannae, 1018
Cape Bon, 468
Carthage, 468
Carthage, 698
Cephalonia, 880
Kefalonia, 880
Lipares, 880
Stelai, 880
Castrogiovanni, 859
Chariopolis, 1051
Chersonesus, 447
Chrysopolis, 324
Cibalae, 316
Cillium, 544
Constantinople, 626
Constantinople, 674-678
Constantinople, 717-718
Constantinople, 941
Constantinople, 1047
Constantinople, 1187
Constantinople, 1204
Constantinople, 1235
Constantinople, 1260
Constantinople, 1261
Constantinople, 1422
Constantinople, 1453
Cotyaeum, 492
Crasus, 804
Crete, 824
Crete, 828
Crete, 961
Ctesiphon, 363
Damascus, 634
Damietta, 853
Daras, 530
Daras, 573
Dathin, 634
Dazimon, 838
Demetrias, 1274
Demotika, 1352
Devina, 1279
Diakene, 1050
Diampoli, 1049
Didymoteichon, 1352
Dimitritsi, 1185
Dorostalon, 971
Dranginai, 1040
Dyrrachium, 1018
Dyrrachium, 1081
Caesarea, 1073
Echinades, 1427
Edessa, 1031
Ekato Vounoi, 1050
Emessa, 635-636
Faventia, 542
Fields of Cato, 548
Firaz, 634
Frigidus, 394
Gallipoli, 1354
Gallipoli, 1366
Hades, 1057
Heliopolis, 640
Hellespont, 324
Heraclea, 806
Hieromyax, 636
Hyelion - Leimocheir,1177
Iron Bridge, 637
Ieromyax, 636
Jerusalem, 614
Jerusalem, 637
Kaisareia, 1073
Kalavrye, 1079
Kapetron, 1049
Katasyrtai, 917
Kleidion, 1014
Klokotnitsa, 1230
Kopidnadon, 788
Koundouros, 1205
Krasos, 804
Lalakaon, 863
Larissa, 1084
Lemnos, 1025
Levounion, 1091
Makryplagi, 1264
Mammes, 534
Manzikert, 1071
Maogamalcha, 363
Maranga, 363
Marcellae, 756
Marcellae, 792
Marcianopolis, 377
Mardia, 316
Marj-ud-Deebaj, 634
Marta, 547
Masts, 655
Martyropolis, 588
Mavropotamos, 844
Mediolanum, 539
Melanthius, 559
Melantias, 559
Melitene, 576
Membresa, 536
Mercurii Promontorium, 468
Messina, 843
Milano, 539
Milvian Bridge, 312
Mons Seleucus, 353
Monte Siricolo, 1041
Montepeloso, 1041
Montemaggiore, 1041
Morava, 1191
Mount Lactarius, 553
Mucellium, 542
Mursa Major, 351
Mutah, 629
Myriokephalon, 1176
Naples, 536
Neopatras, 1274
Nicaea, 1077
Nicaea, 1097
Nicaea, 1328-1331
Nicomedia, 782
Nicomedia, 1337
Nikiou, 646
Nineveh, 627
Nisibis, 338
Nisibis, 350
Noviodunum, 369
Olivento, 1041
Ongal, 680
Ophlimos, 622
Orontes, 994
Osimo, 539
Ostrovo, 1043
Palakazio, 1021
Palermo, 830-831
Pancalia, 978
Pegae, 922
Pelacanon, 1329
Pelagonia, 1259
Petra, 549
Petra, 551
Petroe, 1057
Perkri, 1034
Pharsalus, 1277
Philadelphia, 1390
Philomelion, 1117
Phoenix, 655
Pirisabora, 363
Pliska, 811
Poimanenon, 1224
Poson, 863
Preslava, 1053
Prinitza, 1263
Prusa, 1326
Rhodes, 1249
Rhodes, 1309
Rhyndacus, 1211
Rimini, 538
Rishki Pass, 759
Rome, 537-538
Rome, 545 - 546
Rometta, 964
Rometta, 1038
Rousokastro, 1332
Rus Raid, 860
Rus Raid, 941
Rus Raid, 1025
Rus Raid, 1043
Samarra, 363
Sardis, 743
Satala, 530
Save, 388
Saxa Rubra, 312
Scalas Veteres, 537
Sebastia, 1070
Sebastopolis, 692
Sedica, 809
Sena Gallica, 551
Setina, 1017
Shirimni, 1021
Singara, 344
Sirmium, 441
Sirmium, 580-582
Sirmium, 1167
Siscia, 388
Skafida, 1304
Solachon, 586
Spercheios, 997
Strumica, 1014
Strymon, 1185
Sufetula, 647
Svindax, 1022
Syllaeum, 677
Syracuse, 827-828
Syracuse, 877-878
Taginae, 552
Taormina, 902
Tarsus, 965
Thacia, 545
Thannourios, 528
Thasos, 829
Thessalonica, 586
Thessalonica, 615
Thessalonica, 617
Thessalonica, 676-678
Thessalonica, 904
Thessalonica, 995
Thessalonica, 1014
Thessalonica, 1040
Thessalonica, 1185
Thessalonica, 1224
Thessalonica, 1264
Thessalonica, 1430
Thomas the Slav, 821-823
Tornikios, 1047
Trajan’s Gate, 986
Tricameron, 533
Troina, 1040
Tryavna, 1190
Utus, 447
Vasiliki Livada, 1050
Veregava, 759
Versinikia, 813
Vescera, 682
Vesuvius, 553
Vid, 447
Viminacium, 599
Volturnus, 554
Wadi al-Arabah, 634
Yarmuk, 636
Zombos, 1074
Zygos pass, 1053
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Aspis

Battle of Mammes

(Battle of Mamma)
year:

534

Spring 534
A Byzantine victory against Moorish rebels in a battle with unusual tactics ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Berbers
location:
In central Tunisia south of the modern town Aïn Djeloula of Kairouan Governorate
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched battle
war:
Berber Tribes Rebellions
modern country:
Tunisia
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Justinian I) The Enemies
Commander: Solomon (Carthage governor) Cutzinas, Esdilasas, Iourphouthes, Mesidinissas
Forces: 18,000 50,000
Losses: more than 10,000

Background story:
In 533-534, general Belisarius defeated and destroyed the Vandal Kingdom that had existed in the former Roman territories of Northern Africa since 435. After this success, emperor Justinian founded a new major administrative division: the praetorian prefecture of Africa (praefectura praetorio Africae). Many lands of the old Roman provinces remained in the hands of various Berber tribes, collectively called the Mauri (Moors). The Moors however pledged loyalty to the Byzantine empire as Belisarius apparently promised to share with them the loot from the fallen Vandal kingdom.
Belisarius finished his mission in Africa and left. He was succeeded as magister militum Africae by his domesticus (chief-of-staff), the eunuch Solomon from Daras. The tribes of Mauri living in Byzacena and Numidia almost immediately revolted. After that, Solomon was promoted to the civil office of praetorian prefect (governor of the province) and received reinforcements from Justinian.

The Battle:
Mammes
The revolted Moors had invaded Byzacena and defeated a local Byzantine garrison, killing its commanders, Gainas and Rufinus. Byzacena was the territory south of Carthage, which is now roughly central and eastern Tunisia.
With the newly arrived Byzantine troops and with the aide of warriors from other Moorish tribes, Solomon gathered an army of 18,000 and marched towards Byzacena in Spring 535. He reached a location called Mammes where the four Moorish chiefs Cutzinas, Esdilasas, Iourphouthes and Mesidinissas had encamped
Solomon preferred not to attack and made a stockade. The Moors had formed a circle with their camels. They placed the women and the children inside the circle (for among the Moors was customary to take some of their women and some of their children to battle to perform auxiliary tasks like building huts and tending horses).
The Moors took their stand on foot in between the legs of the camels armed with swords, spears and low-tech shields. Some of them with their horses stayed hidden in the mountain behind their circle.
Solomon placed no one against the side of the circle of the Moors that was towards the mountain fearing that a force might come down and then he would be under attack from two sides.
The battle didn’t start well for the Romans. Their horses were disturbed by the noise and sight of the camels reared up throwing away their riders. At the same time the Moors were attacking hurling all the spears they had. They were hitting the Romans who were unable to defend themselves and to hold their positions. Seeing this disorder, Solomon ordered all his men to get off their horses and stand still under the protection of their shields.
Then, Solomon himself led a counter attack of a group of 500 men against a small part of the enemy circle. He commanded his men to draw their swords and target the camels. Around 200 camels were killed and the Moors at that point started to flee, so the circle was breached. The Romans advanced to the center of the circle where the women and children were. The crowd of the Moors panicked and fled to the mountain. The Romans chased them and slaughtered more than 10,000.

Noteworthy:
The historian Procopius records an exchange of very interesting speeches of the leaders of the two armies to their men. This exchange alludes to the exchange before the battle of Nafpaktos in Thucydides.

Aftermath:
Solomon and his army returned to Carthage in triumph, but there news came that the Moors, regrouped fast and seeking revenge had attacked and overrun Byzacena again. Solomon had to go back.