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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 Shirimni

(Battle of Lake Palakazio)
year:

1021

11 September 1021
A difficult victory of the Byzantine army over the Iberians ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Iberians (Georgians)
location:
In the area of lake Cildir in NE Minor Asia, in modern Turkey, near the borders with Georgia and Armenia
 accuracy: ●●●●
battle type:
Pitched battle
war:
Iberian war
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Basil II Bulgaroktonos) The Enemies
Commander: Emperor Basil II Ruler of Iberia Giorgi I
Forces: 40,000 Outnumbered
Losses:

Background story:
In the year 1000, Emperor Basil II was in southern Asia Minor, in the region of Tarsus, where he had spent the winter after his campaign against the Arab Fatimids. It was there that he learned of the death of the Iberian (=Georgian) David III, ruler of the state of Tao (or Taik) in northeastern Asia Minor, in the Caucasus region.
David, who was honored with the Byzantine title of Kouropalatis, had played a role in the civil war of the beginning of the reign of Basil, when he had supported the rebel Vardas Phokas. After the failure of that mutiny, David declared submission and had promised, that his state would bequeath it to Byzantium. So after his death, Basil rushed to the area, directly from Tarsus, to secure the inheritance.
This was done without any particular problems from the Iberians and, thus, a fairly large new area was annexed to Byzantium, which later, after 20 years, would become the Iberian thema.
ιβηρια
The Tao/Taik region in green outline

In general, the regions of Iberia and Armenia were divided into many small independent hegemonies that never posed a serious threat to Byzantium. But around that time, the king of Abasgia (Abkhazia) Bagrat III (Pagratios for the Greeks) managed to conquer or annex various principalities south of the Caucasus (mainly Iberian and Armenian) and form a large “kingdom of Iberia and Abasgia”. After his death, his successor George I (also known as Giorgi or Crocri), implementing his father's ambitious plans, in 1014 violated the agreements with Byzantium and encroached on Byzantine lands by annexing the Taik region, that is, the old principality of Kouropalatis David (who was the uncle of George I). At the same time, the Iberians formed an alliance with the “Mad Caliph” of the Arabs, Al-Hakim.
Basil II did not react immediately to this offense, as he did not want to distract himself from the war against the Bulgarians.

Much later, in 1021, the always unforgiving Basil II, decided to deal with the Iberians (it may have played a role that Al-Hakim disappeared from the face of the earth that year – literally). So the sixty-three-year-old emperor led a large army of 40,000 men, 5,000 of whom were the Varangians, and encamped in Asia Minor. In order not to lose the advantage of surprise, he did not reveal to his officers the real purpose of the campaign. Everyone had the impression that they were heading to Antioch. The army moved quickly and encamped in the area of ​​Theodosioupolis (Erzurum). From there, the Iberian rulers were notified of the arrival of the emperor who was waiting for them to pay their respects. George, however, refused to go.
Giorgi's contemptuous attitude angered the emperor and ordered the destruction of the city of Okomi (now, Ugumi). George in turn destroyed the city of Okhtik (for reasons unknown) and began to retreat to the east, in order to avoid confrontation with the powerful Byzantine army.

The Battle:
Shirimni
Basil II
Under the leadership of King Basil II, the Byzantine army had developed the ability to move very quickly. Thus, as the Iberian army retreated, the Byzantines, after crossing Taik and entering enemy territory, overtook them in the (unidentified) location “Sirimni”, in the swampy area west of Lake Palakazio (today Cildir at the NE Anatolia).

Only a part of the Iberian army was involved in the battle as the rest had advanced. The Iberians fought bravely and proved to be a difficult opponent. The Byzantines were repulsed repeatedly, but in the end, they prevailed thanks to their experience and numerical advantage, while the Iberian cavalry was stuck in the swamps around the lake.
Among the dead was the leader of the army of the Iberians, Liparitis.

Aftermath:
It was a bloody battle, but the difficult victory of the Byzantines was indecisive, while a large part of the Georgian army escaped, and then was reinforced with forces from other Caucasian hegemonies and regrouped. The Byzantine army followed them for a while and tried to engage them in battle, but to no avail. Eventually, it returned and retired for the winter to Trabzon, having first looted and deserted 12 provinces of Iberia. The hostilities resumed the following year.