<>
thyreos

Byzantine Battles

<>
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
   4 th   century
   5 th   century
   6 th   century
   7 th   century
   8 th   century
   9 th   century
  10 th   century
  11 th   century
  12 th   century
  13 th   century
  14 th   century
  15 th   century

Aspis

Siege of Auximus

year:

539

Apr-Nov 539
Sige and capture of Auximus (Osimo) by Belisarius ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Ostrogoths
location:
Auximus, present-day Osimo in Italy
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Siege
war:
Gothic War in Italy
modern country:
Italy
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Justinian I) The Enemies
Commander: General Belisarius Unknown
Forces: 11,000 10,000
Losses:

Background story:
After the end of the siege of Rome by the Ostrogoths in the spring of 538, Belisarius gained the initiative in the war against the Goths. The overall strategic objective was Ravenna, the seat of the Ostrogothic king Vitiges. But before the Romans could get there, the inland Gothic strongholds had to be taken.
Belisarius was advancing slowly and methodically, constantly gaining ground, although in March 539 he had a serious setback, when the Ostrogoths under Uraias, assisted by 10,000 Burgundians, sacked and razed the Byzantine-held city of Milan.
Despite this, operations continued in central Italy. Belisarius estimated that the main obstacle to Ravenna was the city and strong fortress Auximus (or Auximum, today Osimo) located in a strategic position on the Via Flaminia. Belisarius did not want to bypass Auximus and continue further north, having this important castle in his rear.

King Vitiges himself estimated that Auximus was of great importance for his defense and had manned the garrison with many elite warriors who gradually reached 10,000.
Shortly before the siege of the city began, Belisarius had sent an army led by Martinos and John, along with another John, the Gluton, to block Uraias north of the Po river. He had also sent an army under Cyprian and Justin to besiege the town of Fiesole, near Florence, which was monitoring an alternative route to Ravenna.
At this stage of the Gothic War, and after the serious failure in Milan, Narses had already been recalled to Constantinople and Belisarius was again the undisputed leader of the campaign in Italy.

The Battle:
Auximus
The siege of Auximus began in April or May 539 by an army of 11,000 men.
The hostilities started from the first day. Upon his arrival, Belisarius had ordered the camp to be set up in a circular formation around the city. The Goths, seeing from the walls the enemies relaxed and scattered, engaged in setting up tents, and the various units at a great distance from each other, decided to take them by surprise. So late in the afternoon they launched an attack to the east, where Belisarius was. The Byzantines were experienced and managed to regroup and repel the attack. They chased the Goths up to the slope of the castle hill, but the Goths, being in an advantageous position, inflicted several losses on their opponents.
Belisarius knew he could not capture the city by direct attacks. Auximus had very strong walls and a strong garrison. The only option was to blockade the city and force a surrender due to lack of supplies. So he just blocked the perimeter. The only activity of the first weeks was when the Goths went out to gather grass outside their walls (for their horses). The Byzantines were waiting for them, while the Goths, in turn, ambushed them in the grass. There were frequent skirmishes at that point.
There were many warriors inside the castle, but this had the disadvantage that the supplies ran out quickly. Overcrowding and hunger were not a good combination to keep morale high. During the summer, the Goths began to suffer from starvation and sent a letter to their king calling for help. The siege around the city was tight, but the Goths bribed a guard of the Roman army, a Visigoth called Burcentius, who carried their message to the king. Vetiges, in the same way through Burcentius, responded that he was preparing an army to come and help them. The letter of the king was read aloud in the city and, for a while, morale rose. But no help came and soon the defenders sent a new message to the king warning that they would be compelled to surrender within five days.

Vitiges wanted sincerely to help both Auximus and Fiesole. But a large part of his forces was trapped north of the Po. He also had high hopes to get help for his secret allies, the Franks, who, although were formally allies of Byzantium, had a decisive role in the recapture (and razing) of Milan by the Ostrogoths.
In the middle of the summer, the Frankish king Theudebert I crossed the Alps with a horde of 100,000 warriors and headed for the Po. The Goths of Uraias, believing that the Franks were coming to unite with them against the Byzantines, welcomed them and helped them cross the river. But suddenly the Franks attacked and slaughtered the unsuspecting Ostrogoths, while the Byzantines watched from the opposite bank in astonishment. Then the Franks attacked the Byzantines. They were too many and the Byzantines were unable to put up serious resistance, so they retreated to Tuscany.
This was very serious. The involvement of the Franks could drastically change the course of the war in Italy. Belisarius sent a letter to Theudebert reminding him of his commitments to the Byzantine emperor. Fortunately, Theudebert soon left and returned to his homeland, not because he was convinced by Belisarius' letter, but because an epidemic of dysentery wiped out a third of his army.
This bizarre episode with the Franks further weakened the Ostrogoths, while depriving them of the last hope for help to the besieged fortresses.

In the meantime in Auximus, Belisarius was constantly inviting the Goths to insist no longer to their hopeless task, but abandon their hope from Ravenna and give up, offering favorable terms. He could not understand what was giving them so much courage that they refused to discuss his tempting proposals. There was a reason for their stubborn refusal and the general had to find out. A Slav soldier, hidden in the bushes under the walls for the purpose, succeeded in capturing alive a Goth who had crept out of the city at dawn to gather grass. The prisoner disclosed the treachery of Burcentius, and Belisarius delivered him to his comrades to do with him what they would. They burned him alive in sight of the walls.

Noteworthy:
We have a lot of information about this siege, perhaps more than any other siege in Byzantine history (with the exception of those of Constantinople). Not because this siege is more remarkable and more eventful than others. The reason is that the historian Prokopius participated in it, as the secretary of General Belisarius, and gives us many details, only a part of which was included in this page.

Aftermath:
Belisarius was now free to march against Ravenna, which he besieged in the beginning of 540. In May 540 the city surrendered when Belisarius pretended to accept the Ostrogoths' proposal to be crowned king of the West.
Thus the Ostrogothic state was temporarily overthrown.