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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 Versinikia

year:

813

22 June 813
A major defeat by the Bulgarians in an ambitious campaign ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Bulgarians
location:
Near the castle of Versinikia. The exact location is unknown. It was somewhere in SE Bulgaria, between Malamirovo and Edirne (Turkey)
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Early Bulgarian Wars
modern country:
Bulgaria
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael I Rangabe) The Enemies
Commander: Emperor Michael Ι Khan Krum
Forces: 20.000 - 30,000 12,000 (max)
Losses: 2,000 - 3,000

Background story:
After the disastrous battle of Pliska in 811, the Byzantine Empire was in a really difficult situation. The Bulgarians started again to attack in Thrace next year. Many towns were seized and their population was sent far to the north, across the Danube. The raids created such panic among the Byzantine population that several towns were emptied even without being attacked.
In the autumn of 812, after failed peace negotiations, the Bulgars besieged Mesembria (modern Nessebar). They had new, state-of-the-art siege machines built by an Arab engineer and captured the town easily.
During the winter of 812 - 813 Khan Krum started intense preparations for an attack against Byzantium, while Emperor Michael I was preparing for defense. In February 813, Bulgarian forces made several reconnaissance raids in Eastern Thrace but were pushed back. The retreat was considered as a God-sent victory and encouraged a counter-attack.
The Byzantines gathered again a large army from all provinces (themata) of their Empire including the guards of the Syrian passes. The departure of the army was a celebration and the population of the city accompanied the troops outside the city wall. The army marched to the north but did not take any actions to take back Mesembria. They encamped in the vicinity of Adrianople where the army looted and robbed its own country.
Khan Krum also headed to Adrianople.

The Battle:
Versinikia
Battle of Versinikia (Manasses chronicle)
The two armies met near the fortress of Versinikia, several miles north of Adrianople, in the valley of the river Tountzas. The Byzantine army was significantly larger, so, the Bulgarians kept on a defensive position. Despite its numerical and logistic superiority, the Byzantine army did not attack. Both armies got tense and anxious having waited in full armor for 13 days in the hot summer of Thrace. At the end, the Byzantine commanders became impatient and pressed the emperor to take the initiative.
The emperor Μichael I Rangabe was in the center of the Byzantine formation, together with Leo the Armenian . The left flank was led by Leo Vardas and on the right was general Ioannes Aplakis with 8,000 men from Macedonia and Thrace.
The battle was short: Ioannes Aplakis attacked from the right (probably on his own initiative) and at first pushed back the left wing of the Bulgarians. But the rest of the Byzantine army remained inactive without engaging in battle. When Kroumos saw this, he moved a force of Slavic infantry to strengthen his left side, and at the same time outflanked the attacking Byzantines with his heavy cavalry. Alpakis' contingent was surrounded and. without support from the others, was soon overcome; Alpakis was killed. Then the whole Byzantine army began to retreat. The Anatolian battalions in the center were the first to retreat and were followed by all the others. The chief commanders of Byzantine army, including the Emperor Michael Rangabe and Leo the Armenian, were the first to abandon the battlefield.
When the Bulgarians saw the enemy to retreat without obvious reason, they at first suspected a trap. They did not expect to win so easily and at first did not chase them. But when they confirmed that the enemy was fleeing in panic, their cavalry rushed after the Byzantines. The Bulgarians took the Byzantine camp and a rich prize including gold and weaponry.

It is generally believed that one of the generals, Leo the Armenian, was primarily responsible for the defeat, ordering the retreat of the units that were still not engaged in the battle. It is almost certain that Leo undermined Rangabe, in order to weaken him and to be able to take his throne. If this was really his plan, he succeeded perfectly.

Noteworthy:
After capturing Mesembria, the Bulgarians found there 36 copper siphons used to throw the famous Greek fire (which was the top-secret weapon of the Byzantines)

Aftermath:
Versinikia worsened the grim situation of Byzantium and sealed the fate of Michael I Rangabe who was forced to abdicate. He was replaced by Leo the Armenian/
On 17 July 813 Krum reached the walls of Constantinople but he was not well prepared to take it.