<>
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

Battle of Diampolis

year:

1049

Defeat of the Byzantines by the Pechenegs in the first battle of a 5-years war ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Pechenegs
location:
Νear the fortress-city Diampolis, modern Yambol (Ямбол) in SE Bulgaria
 accuracy: ●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Pecheneg Wars
modern country:
Bulgaria
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Constantine IX Monomachos) The Enemies
Commander: Constantine Arianitis Unknown
Forces:
Losses:

Background story:
The Pechenegs or Patzinakae or –very often but incorrectly– Scythians were a nomadic people of Turkish origin, who had migrated west since the 9th century and settled north of the Danube.
It is believed to have been one of the 24 tribes that formed the confederation of the Oguz Turks, whose cradle was the steppes around Lake Aral. Other well-known tribes of this group were the Seljuks and the Kumans. In other words, the Pechenegs were Turkomans.
They were barbaric but excellent warriors, mostly horse-archers . Occasionally, in the 9th century, they were allies with the Byzantines, who used them against other dangerous enemies, such as the Magyars and the Ros.

In 1018, when Basil II overthrew the First Bulgarian Empire, Byzantium was found to be directly bordering the Pechenegs. And then the problems started. Between 1027 and 1045 the Pechenegs made 4 raids on Byzantine lands. The problems intensified after 1043, when under the pressure of the Russians and the Oguz they were forced to move closer to the Danube in search of an opportunity to cross to Moisia (ie northern Bulgaria, which in this period was Byzantine territory).

Like most barbarian nomadic people, the Pechenegs were a patchwork of tribes who often fought each other. Around 1046, one of the Pecheneg warlords named Kegenis clashed with the rest, became autonomous and took refuge with the 20,000 of his clan south of the Danube, seeking the protection of the Byzantines, who welcomed him. Kegenis was baptized, honored with the title of patrikios and received large lands and 3 fortresses near Danube. Then he began raids north of the Danube, against the other Pechenegs.

In the winter of 1048, the khan of the Pechenegs Tyrach crossed the frozen Danube leading a huge crowd of Pechenegs, which according to Kedrinos reached 800,000 (!).
As the Pechenegs advanced south, they were struck by an epidemic and were easily defeated by the Doukas of Adrianople, Constantine Arianitis, with the help of the warriors of Kegenis. Tyrach was taken prisoner. The Byzantines then made the unfortunate choice of accepting the Pechenegs as settlers in the deserted plain of Moisia, aiming, among other things, at using the Pecheneg warriors on other fronts. A key element of the settlement process was the Christianization of the Pechenegs, something that the newcomers did not like very much. Khan Tyrach was “invited” along with 140 other prominent warlords to Constantinople, where they were baptized and given honorary titles, although they were, essentially, hostages.

Shortly afterwards, an episode marked the beginning of a five-year war. In early 1049, Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos decided to send a force of 15,000 Pechenegs to reinforce Byzantine forces in Anatolia against a new enemy, the Seljuks. This force, after crossing Bosphorus, revolted and turned back. They headed for Bulgaria, in the area around Sofia where they joined warriors from other Pecheneg tribes and formed a very large horde. Kegenis’ men joined them, as he was very unhappy with the Byzantines, who had imprisoned him unjustly after a slander.
The rebellious Pechenegs soon launched attacks in Macedonia and Thrace. Suddenly the Byzantines had to face a new, very serious danger from the north.

The Battle:
Diampolis
Defeat of the Pechenegs by the Rus
Around the middle of 1049, the commander of the army of the West and magistros Constantine Arianitis, starting from Adrianople, marched with a Byzantine army against the Pechenegs. The two armies met near the town of Diampolis, present-day Yambol in SE Bulgaria.

The Pechenegs, however, were too many, while the Byzantines had probably underestimated them because of the easy win on them under the leadership of Arianitis himself last year.
The Byzantine army was defeated and suffered heavy losses. Among the dead were two prominent officers, Theodoros Stravomytis and Polys, who had distinguished themselves in the fight against Tornikos.
After the defeat, Arianitis retreated and was fortified in Adrianople. From there he asked for reinforcements from the emperor.

Aftermath:
The emperor arranged for a new army to be sent immediately against the Pechenegs. He also recruited the captive Khan of the Pechenegs Tyrach to whom he promised great rewards if he helped to deal with the problem. The Byzantines, however, were repeatedly defeated in the following years by the Pechenegs, who became a serious problem.