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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

Siege of Naples

year:

536

November 536
Siege and capture of Naples by the army of Belisarius ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Ostrogoths
location:
Naples, Italy
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
City Capture
war:
Gothic War in Italy
modern country:
Italy
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Justinian I) The Enemies
Commander: Belisarius Unknown
Forces: <8.000
Losses:

Background story:
After the fast overthrow of the kingdom of the Vandals in North Africa, Emperor Justinian decided to attack the kingdom of the Ostrogoths in Italy on the pretext of the imprisonment and assassination of the queen of the Ostrogoths Amalaswintha by her cousin and co-ruler king Theodahad (or Theodatus).
Thus, at the beginning of 535, Byzantine forces invaded Italy. Belisarius attacked Sicily, while magister militum per Illyricum Mundus from Dalmatia invaded northern Italy with 4,000 men.
Belisarius landed in Catania. The full powers of imperator were again conferred upon him. But his army, this time, was hardly half as strong as that which he had led against the Vandals. It consisted of 4000 legionaries and Federates; a special division of 3000 Isaurians under Eunes; 200 Huns, 300 Moors; and the armed retainers of Belisarius, who may have amounted to several hundreds. Thus the total strength was about 8,000, which together with the fleet should amount to about 12,000.

In Sicily, the Byzantines did not encounter any particular difficulties except for a small resistance in Panormon (Palermo). The island was conquered within a few months, although Belisarius delayed a little, because he had to go back to Carthage where the army had revolted. After restoring order there, he returned to Sicily in mid-536 and crossed with his army to mainland Italy. He crossed Calabria and Campania unhindered and reached Naples, which was guarded by a strong Gothic guard.
Here in Naples, Belisarius met the first serious resistance during his campaign.

It was mid-October 536.
The fleet blocked the port and the coast, while Belisarius encamped outside the city, where he received a deputation of citizens, who implored him not to press them to surrender; Naples is a place of no importance, they said, let him pass on and take Rome. The general, observing that he had not asked them for advice, promised that the Gothic garrison would be allowed to depart unharmed, and he privately promised large rewards to Stephen, the head of the deputation, if he could prevail upon the citizens to surrender.
An assembly was held in the city and at first most agreed to a conditional surrender. However, two orators intervened, Pastor and Asclepiodotus, and with great eloquence convinced the others that there was no reason to surrender. Their main argument was that the city was insignificant and the Greeks would not want to delay there, so they would leave soon anyway, while Naples would have taken an honest stance in the eyes of the world, regardless of who would prevail at the end of the war. In addition, King Theodotus of Ostrogoth would certainly send an army to help them.

Adopting this view, the Neapolitans refused to surrender. Belisarius did not want to advance on Rome leaving behind an enemy fortress that, despite the rhetoric of the Neapolitans, was strong and important.

The Battle:
Naples
depiction of Naples in the beginning of Middle Ages
Belisarius decided to besiege the city, but it proved a more difficult task than he had expected. He destroyed the aqueduct, but this caused little inconvenience, as the town had good wells. The terrain around the walls did not allow the development of large forces or multiple attacks or the use of siege engines. The assault from the sea was not easy either, because the sea walls were high and the besieged had catapults to defend them. Ancient Naples included within its walls only a small portion of the modern city. It corresponded to a rectangular area of about 1000✖800 m, with the church of San Lorenzo at the center.

Having wasted some weeks and incurred serious losses in men, Belisarius, impatient to advance against Rome, decided to abandon the siege. But the luck was again with him. He had given orders to the army to prepare for departure, when a curious Isaurian soldier, climbing into the broken aqueduct in order to inspect its construction, discovered that, near the walls, the channel had been pierced through solid rock. The aperture was still open. Without water, it was just a tunnel under the walls of the city. The hole was too small for a man in armor to pass, but it could be easily enlarged.
Belisarius was very excited and ordered the widening of the hole. Files were employed to scrap the rock, so as to make no noise. When the opening was ready, the general gave the Neapolitans a last chance to avoid bloodshed and the horrors of a sack. He summoned Stephen to his camp, assured him that it was now impossible that the city should not fall into his hands, and implored him to persuade his fellow-citizens to capitulate and avoid the miseries which would befall them. Stephen returned in tears, but the people refused to listen. They were convinced that the appeal of Belisarius was merely a ruse.

Six hundred men crept through the aqueduct at night, and reached a well in the basement of a house deep in the city. They got out and slew the sentinels on the northern wall, and enabled the Roman troops who were waiting below with scaling-ladders to ascend on the battlements. The horrors which Belisarius had anticipated ensued, and the Huns particularly distinguished themselves in the work of murder and plunder. At the end, the general succeeded in gathering the troops together and stopping the carnage. Swords were sheathed and captives were released. Eight hundred Goths who were taken were well treated. The Neapolitans turned with anger against the two demagogues whom they held responsible for all that had befallen them. They slew Asclepiodotus; they found Pastor already dead, stricken by apoplexy when he knew that the city was taken.

Naples fell in early November 536. The siege lasted 20 days.

Aftermath:
The fall of Naples shocked the Goths. The inaction shown by their king Theudatos was unacceptable. The enraged Ostrogoth warlords elected another king, Vitiges. Theudatos, who was in Rome, tried to flee to Ravenna, but was killed on the way by order of the new king.
Belisarius marched against Rome, which Vitiges abandoned on the pretext that he had to fight the Franks at the north of the country. Rome was taken without a fight…