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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

Revolt of Thomas the Slav

year:

821-823

A major military revolt and siege of Constantinople for over a year ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Civil War
location:
Constantinople
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Siege
war:
Military Revolts
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael II the Stammerer) The Enemies
Commander: Emperor Michael ΙI Thomas the Slav
Forces: 35,000 80,000
Losses:

Background story:
Thomas the Slav, was a Byzantine army officer born in northeastern Asia Minor, in the 760s to a poor peasant family of Slavic descent.
He joined the army where he quickly made a career. He was a protégé of the eminent military Bardanes the Turk, who was a general on the Anatolikon thema. Among Bardanes’ confidants were also Leo the Armenian and Michael Psellos (the stammerer), with whom Thomas was in close friendship. In 803, when he had the title of spatharios, he was one of the officers who supported the mutiny of Bardanes the Turk. Bardanes tried to overthrow the emperor Nikephoros I, but failed when his two main supporters (and later emperors) Leo the Armenian and Michael Psellos abandoned him and supported the legitimate emperor.

Thomas the Slav
Thomas the Slav
It seems that after that revolt, Thomas the Slav fell into disfavor. But later, when his friend Leo the Armenian became emperor, as Leo V, Thomas took the position of the tourmarches of the Foiderati in the Anatolikon thema. At Christmas 820, Leo V was assassinated by Michael Psellos, who ascended the throne as Michael II. Shortly afterwards, in 821, Thomas rebelled against the new emperor and quickly won the support of the majority of the thematic armies except from the Armeniakon thema (always rivals of the Anatolikon) and the Opsikion thema (governed by Katakylas, nephew of Michael II)
There are various theories as to the reasons for Thomas's rebellion, but the most probable reason was Thomas's personal ambition to become emperor (like his two friends), taking advantage of the displeasure in the army over the assassination of Leo V. Thomas also took advantage of the fact that Michael was an iconoclast, while he himself was in favor of icons.

Thomas the Slav
Thomas troops defeat the imperial army, from the Madrid Skylitzes.
Thomas easily defeated an army from the Armeniakon thema sent against him by Michael and took control over most of Asia Minor. He took with him the state tax collectors and thus was able to appropriate the money of the public funds of Asia Minor themata. With this money he organized his army and built siege engines and ships. At the same time, he reached an agreement with the Abbasid caliph Al-Mamun, which brought him additional military forces and more financial resources. As part of the facilitations by the Arabs, he was crowned emperor in the Arab-occupied Antioch by the iconoclastic patriarch of Antioch Job.


After these preparations, and having with him almost 2/3 of the subjects of the Byzantine Empire, Thomas marched against Constantinople, passing from Abydos at the Asian coast to Europe with the help of his fleet.

Constantinople 1453
Thomas and his fleet cross from Abydos to Thrace. Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes

The Battle:
Thomas the Slav
Thomas and his army besiege Constantinople from the Madrid Skylitzes
The siege of Constantinople by Thomas the Slav began in December 821. The city was besieged by land and sea. It is estimated that Thomas's army numbered about 80,000 men while the defenders of Constantinople numbered less than 35,000.
Thomas expected the people of Constantinople to support him and help overthrow Michael, but this did not happen. The sight of his huge force did not intimidate the capital's inhabitants: unlike the provinces, Constantinople and its garrison stood firmly behind Michael. To encourage his troops, Michael had his young son Theophilos lead a procession along the walls, carrying a piece of the True Cross and the mantle of the Virgin Mary.

After subduing the cities around the capital, Thomas concentrated on Constantinople where he launched a general attack from three sides. He led personally the attack in the northwestern part of the land walls, in Vlachernae. But even though the attackers were many more and had siege engines and Geek fire throwers, all the attacks failed, while the opposite winds prevented their ships from approaching the weak walls on the side of the Golden Horn Bay. Realizing that the siege was not to end quickly, especially in the middle of winter, Thomas suspended operations and withdrew his army to spend the rest of the winter in Thrace, not far from the city.

Emperor Michael took advantage of the break to bring reinforcements from Asia Minor and to repair the walls. In the spring Thomas' army returned and encamped again outside the city. He choose to focus his attack on the Blachernae sector. Before the offensive, Michael himself ascended the walls and addressed Thomas' troops, exhorting them to abandon their commander and promising amnesty if they would defect. Thomas' army viewed the plea as a sign of weakness, and advanced confidently to begin the assault, but as they neared the wall, the defenders opened the gates and attacked. The sudden onslaught drove back Thomas' army; at the same time, the Imperial Fleet defeated Thomas's ships, whose crews broke and fled to the shore in panic. This defeat diminished Thomas's naval strength, and although he continued blockading the capital by land, the loss demoralized his supporters, who began defecting.
These developments, although they did not turn the balance of power, lowered the morale of the rebels. But Thomas was not intimidated and asked his supporters in Asia Minor for reinforcements and new ships. The response was fast and a new fleet of 350 ships soon arrived in Constantinople.
Constantinople 1453
Repulse of the attack of Thomas's fleet on the seaward walls
Thus reinforced, Thomas decided to launch a two-pronged assault against Constantinople's sea walls, with one part of the fleet attacking the wall of the Golden Horn, and another part attacking the south coast, at the Sea of Marmara. But Thomas had underestimated again Michael: the imperial fleet attacked his ships and, assisted by Greek fire shootings from the walls, destroyed or captured many of the rebel vessels. Only a few managed to escape.
Through this victory, Michael secured control of the sea, but Thomas's army remained superior on land and continued its blockade of Constantinople.

Emperor Michael turned to the empire's northern neighbor, Bulgaria, for help. The two states were bound by a 30-year treaty signed under Leo V. The Bulgarian ruler, khan Omurtag was happy to respond to Michael's request for assistance. The Bulgarian army invaded Thrace, probably in November 822 and advanced towards Constantinople. Thomas raised the siege, and marched to meet them with his army. The two armies met at the plain of Kedouktos near Heraclea. It is not clear who won the battle. Thomas was probably victorious but his army suffered heavy losses.

Thomas was unable to resume the siege: aside from the heavy casualties in the battle with the Bulgarians, his fleet, which he had left behind in the Golden Horn, surrendered to Michael during his absence. Thomas set up camp at the plain of Diabasis some 40 kilometers west of Constantinople, spending winter there. While a few of his men deserted, the bulk remained loyal.

Constantinople 822
The Bulgarians under Omurtag attack Thomas's army. Miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes.

In late April or early May 823, Emperor Michael took the initiative and marched against Thomas with new troops from Asia Minor. Thomas tried to confront them but his demoralized men would not follow. Many surrendered to Michael, while others fled to nearby fortified cities. Thomas sought refuge in Arcadiopolis with the remains of his army; his adopted son Anastasius went with some of Thomas's men to Bizye, and others fled to Panion and Heraclea.


Thomas was besieged for 5 months in Arcadiopolis. The city was not ready for a siege and suffered. At the end, in October 823, the townspeople themselves handed over Thomas to Emperor Michael II. Thomas was sentenced to death. His arms and legs were amputated and then he was impaled.

Noteworthy:
Byzantine historians, being biased in favor of Michael, paint a black picture of Thomas, telling various outrageous stories. One of these stories was that in his youth Thomas spent 25 years in the service of the Saracens. Another bizarre legend was that Thomas presented himself as the late emperor Constantine VI and had persuaded his followers about it.

Aftermath:
Hundreds of uprisings and revolts took place in the history of Byzantium. The revolt of Thomas the Slav was the most serious. It bacame a major civil war and had significant consequences.
Both the army and the fleet were dramatically weakened, while the enemies of Byzantium benefited in various ways. It is no coincidence that shortly afterwards the Arabs landed in Sicily and Crete, leading to the loss of two important provinces of the empire.