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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

Massacre of Milan

(Sack of Mediolanum)
year:

539

March 539
Sack of Milan by Ostrogoths and Burgundians ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Ostrogoths
location:
Milan, Italy
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
City Capture
war:
Gothic War in Italy
modern country:
Italy
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Justinian I) The Enemies
Commander: Mundilas Uraias
Forces: 300 >10.000
Losses: 300,000 citizens

Background story:
In 537 or early 538, the bishop of Mediolanum (as Milan was then known) Dacius or Datius, came to Rome with a delegation of Milan citizens. Dacius asked Belisarius to send an army to liberate the city. The forces of the Ostrogoths were minimal in northern Italy because of the war in the south, Dacius said, and with a low-scale military intervention could fall into the hands of the Byzantines not only Milan but the whole of Liguria (that is, the whole of present-day northwestern Italy). Belisarius promised to help. Milan in those days was the second largest city in the West after Rome.
Indeed, in the spring of 538, as soon as the siege of Rome by the Ostrogoths was over, Belisarius sent a force of 1000 Isaurians and Thracians. The commander was one of his trusted officers, Mundilas. With him was the prefect Fidelios with a small armed group of Ligurians. This force went by boat to Genoa and from there on foot to Milan carrying boats with carriages for the crossing of the river Po. The Byzantines occupied Milan without resistance and took possession of a wider area that included the cities of Bergamum, Comum, Novaria, and various other Ligurian fortresses. The only city that resisted and was not occupied was Ticinum (today's Pavia). In fact, Fidelios was killed in the battle that took place there.
Μιλάνο 539
το μεσαιωνικό Μιλάνο
The conquest of Milan and Liguria was a great success. But it turned out that it was wrong to disperse the already small Byzantine force into many small garrisons to man all these points. In April 538, Mundilas was the lord of Milan with only 300 men at his disposal.

When the Ostrogothic king Vitiges heard the news, he acted swiftly and sent an army under his nephew Uraias. What Belisarius did not foresee was that the Ostrogoths received serious help from the Franks, whose kingdom (Austrasia) bordered on Liguria. The Frankish king Theudebert was an ally of the Byzantines and had been well paid for this by emperor Justinian. However, he saw the developments in Milan as a good opportunity to satisfy his expansionist ambitions. But because he did not want to appear to be violating the lucrative agreement with Justinian, he did not send an army of Franks to Liguria, but 10,000 Burgundians.
Thus, at the end of 538, Milan was besieged by thousands of barbarians. It was defended by only 300 Byzantines and many of the inhabitants who were forced to take up arms to help defend the city.

Meanwhile, further south, after the happy ending in Ariminon, the Byzantines continued their operations in central Italy. The two generals Belisarius and Narses acted almost independently. Despite the rivalry between the two leaders, progress had been made.
Among other things, the Byzantines captured the castle of Urbinum, which surrendered when the only source of water dried up. It is characteristic that both Narses and Belisarius took part in the siege, but they had encamped in separate camps. The victory was finally credited to Belisarius who insisted on the siege, while Narses had almost left.
Towards the end of 538, the main priorities of the Byzantine army were two: On the one hand the occupation of the powerful fortress at Auximus and on the other hand the relief of the siege in Milan.

The Battle:
Milan
Thε sack of Milan in a 19th cent. gravure
In early December 538, Belisarius sent a “large” army to help Milan. The size of this army is not known, but judging by the available forces of Belisarius at that time and the fact that they were divided on many fronts, this force must have numbered 3000-4000 men, at most. Martinos and Uliaris were in charge. This army marched north and reached the river Po, a day away from Milan. There it was stack for many days, on the pretext that there was no way to cross the river.

The besieged in Milan could not wait any longer. One of the deputy chiefs of Mundilas, Paul (leader of the Thracians) managed to cross the enemy lines and cross the Po swimming naked and reach the camp of the Roman reinforcements, calling for the acceleration of the intervention. They assured him that their arrival was a matter of days. At the risk of his life, Paul returned to Milan, where he carried the news that the Byzantine army was coming; and everyone was very happy. But Martin and Uliaris remained inactive. Martinos wrote to Belisarius describing his forces as hopelessly inadequate to cope with the enemy and requesting him to send John (the winner in Rimini) and Justin (magister militum per Illiricum)), who were in the neighboring province of Aemilia, to reinforce them.
Belisarius complied, but John and Justin refused to move without orders by Narses. Belisarius wrote to Narses, who gave the requisite order. John proceeded to collect ships for the purpose of crossing the Po, but before his preparations were completed he fell ill.
Thus delay ensued upon delay, and meanwhile the inhabitants of Milan were starving. When they were reduced to feeding on dogs and mice, Gothic envoys met Mundilas, inviting him to capitulate on the condition that he and all his soldiers should have their lives spared. He was ready to accept these terms if they would agree to spare the inhabitants. But the Goths, who were infuriated against the disloyal Ligurians, did not conceal their determination to wreak a bloody vengeance.
Mundilas therefore refused. He attempted to induce the soldiers to make a desperate sally against the enemy, but, worn as they were by the sufferings of the siege, they had not the courage to attack. They compelled their leader to agree to the terms which the Goths had proposed.

So Mundilas, after a winter of great hardship, was forced to surrender the city at the end of March 539. He and his men were captured and the Goths treated them well. In the city, however, unbelievable atrocities took place. All the men were slaughtered. Procopius speaks of 300,000 victims (which is perhaps inaccurate). Reparatus, the Praetorian Prefect of Italy, was found in the city. He was the brother of Pope Vigilius, but this did not save him. He was cut in pieces and thrown to the dogs. All the women were taken by the Burgundians. The city itself was razed to the ground.
Martin and Uliaris returned back safe but dishonored. Uliaris was never seen again...
After the fall of Milan, Uraias succeeded by the end of 539 in restoring Ostrogothic rule throughout northern Italy.

Noteworthy:
In the long series of deliberate inhumanities recorded in the annals of mankind, the colossal massacre of Milan is one of the most flagrant. Historians have passed it over somewhat lightly. But the career of Attila offers no act of war so savage as this vengeance, carried out by the orders of the nephew of the Gothic king. It gives us the true measure of the instincts of the Ostrogoths, claimed by some to have been the most promising of the German invaders of the Empire.
[J. B. Bury, 1923]

Aftermath:
The calamity was announced to Justinian by the Pope's other brother, Cerventinus. Belisarius also sent him a detailed report. The emperor did not punish anyone, but realized that the coexistence of two leaders in the Italian campaign was problematic. So he recalled Narses. The 2000 Herules of Narses refused to continue their service under Belisarius and caused various problems later (raids, alliance with the Goths, etc.)