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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 Thessalonica

year:

1040

October 1040
Defeat of a Bulgarian army besieging Thessalonica ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Bulgarians
location:
Thessaloniki, northern Greece
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Surprise Attack
war:
Uprisings of the Bulgarians
modern country:
Greece
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael IV the Paphlagonian) The Enemies
Commander: Governor Constantine Alousianos (Alusian)
Forces: 40,000
Losses: 15,000 dead

Background story:
Twenty years after the end of the war with the Bulgarians, great discontent and unrest prevailed in the occupied territories, due to the appointment of a Greek archbishop in Ohrid and, also, due to the increase of taxes by the eunuch John the Orphanotrophos, the powerful éminence grise of Byzantium, in the late 1030s.
In this climate of popular rage, in the spring of 1040, a fugitive named Delyan (Deleanos) appeared in Belgrade and claimed to be the son of the old Tsar Romanos (or Radomir), that is, the grandson of the great Tsar Samuel. The inhabitants of the area, who would follow anyone to get rid of the Byzantines, welcomed him and believed his story. Thus, Delyan was proclaimed tsar of the Bulgarians as Peter II (in memory of the sanctified Peter I).
This was the beginning of a brief period of great unrest in the Balkans. The revolt escalated quickly due to the rage caused by the fiscal policies of Orphanotrophos.

Very soon, other parts of the Balkans also sided with the insurgents. Nis, Skopje, Durres. The Greeks who happened to be on their way were slaughtered. Delyan besieged Thessaloniki, but at that point he did not have the means for an effective siege, and left heading south. In Boeotia, the Bulgarians defeated the general of the Thema of Greece, Allacaseas, and then looted and destroyed Thebes, slaughtering a large number of civilians.
So within a few months, out of nowhere, Delyan prevailed over a large area stretching from present-day Serbia to Corinth, controlling western and central Macedonia, and also present-day Albania and Epirus.
Things did not look good for the empire, which at the time was losing ground on all other fronts. Unexpectedly, the situation was saved for the Byzantines by an internal rival of Delyan:

ostrovo
Alousianos meets Delyan in Ostrovo
In September 1040, the patrician Alousianos (Alusian) escaped from Byzantium, and disguised as an Armenian mercenary, managed to reach Ostrovo (in Vegoritis lake, Greece –probably) where the rebels had encamped. Alousianos was the son of the last Bulgarian tsar, Ivan Vladislav, and thus he was the legitimate heir to the abolished Bulgarian throne.
Alousianos after the capitulation of 1018, had found himself in Byzantium, where over the years had taken high positions. He had been strategos of Theodosioupolis in Asia Minor (Erzerum), but lately, having been slandered, he had fallen into disfavor. In addition, Orphanotrophos forced him to pay, for his alleged crime, 50 pounds of gold and took from him a fief in Cappadocia. Obviously the demotivated Alousianos had good reasons to join the hitherto successful uprising of his compatriots. After all, he was their rightful leader.

Peter II Delyan received Alousianos well and knowing that no one believed that he (Delyan) was a descendant of the royal family, made Alousianos co-tsar. Now the Bulgarians had two kings.

The Battle:
Thessalonica
the defeat of the Bulgarians in the Skylitzes manuscript
Peter II Delyan gave Alousianos an army of 40,000 men and sent him to capture Thessaloniki.

The lord of the city was patrikios Constantine, nephew of Emperor Michael IV, who diligently prepared for the siege and dug a trench around the city walls.
The siege lasted 6 days. The Bulgarians were many, and this time they had come equipped with catapults and siege engines; but their attacks were easily repulsed.
On the night of the last day, the defenders of the city prayed all night in the tomb of Agios Dimitrios and in the morning opened the gates and attacked the besiegers. What the Bulgarians probably did not know was that the garrison of Thessaloniki was reinforced with a unit of the formidable Varangian guard (described in this case as τάγμα Μεγαθύμων – battalion of the enraged).
The Bulgarians were taken by surprise and unprepared to defend themselves, they were devastated. Their losses were unbelievable for the scale of the conflict: 15,000 dead.
The rest of the Bulgarians fled and Alousianos returned humiliated to Ostrovo. He now had reason to fear that Delyan would get rid of him.
According to Skylitzes, the Bulgarian captives attributed their defeat to the intervention of the patron saint of Thessaloniki, Agios Dimitrios, who led the Byzantine attack. Everyone was talking about an unknown young man on a horse leading the attack and throwing fire at the enemies who were paralyzed.
There is some truth in this story because in the battle, most probably, took part the legendary leader of the Varangian guard Harald Hartrada.

Noteworthy:
According to a theory, Alousianus was from the beginning a mole of the Byzantines, who sent him to Delyan to undermine the uprising. This explains a lot: the blinding of Delyan, the surrender without a reason to the Byzantines when he became tsar and how easily he was received back with honors in Constantinople.
This is a logical assumption, but the sources do not provide sufficient information about the actual events and Alousianos’ real motives.

Aftermath:
A few months later, in 1041, during a dinner party, Alousianos attacked the drunken Delyan and with a kitchen knife cut off his nose and blinded him. So he was left alone on the throne. However, he very quickly surrendered to Byzantium, where he reclaimed his property and was awarded the title of magistros.
The blind Peter Delyan regained the leadership, but Michael IV himself campaigned against him and easily defeated the Bulgarians in Ostrovo. The uprising of Delyan ended there.