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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 Preslava

(Battle of Zygos pass)
year:

1053

A defeat of the Byzantines by the Pechenegs in an ambush and a heroic rescue of a unit under Nikephoros Botaneiates ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Pechenegs
location:
At a mountain pass south of Preslav in NE Bulgaria (exact location unknown)
 accuracy: ●●●●
battle type:
Ambush
war:
Pecheneg Wars
modern country:
Bulgaria
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Constantine IX Monomachos) The Enemies
Commander: Michael & Basil Synkellos Khan Tyrach
Forces:
Losses:

Background story:
After 1051 and the unexpectedly heavy losses suffered in Charioupolis, the Pechenegs greatly reduced their raids. But they were still a serious threat, while a big problem for Byzantium was that they had occupied a large part of Bulgaria, which a few years ago, in 1018, had become a Byzantine territory.
Despite the enormous devastation the Pechenegs had caused throughout the northern Balkans, it seems that they had not made much effort to besiege and occupy large cities. However in 1053 the Pechenegs under khan Tyrach captured Great Preslava in northeastern Bulgaria. The city was the old capital of the Bulgarians and was in the hands of the Byzantines since 1001.
Emperor Constantine IX Monomachoss decided to send an army to take back the city.

The Battle:
Zygos Pass
Ruins of Preslava
Akolouthos Michael, one of the protagonists of the victory over the Pechenegs in Charioupolis, was appointed commander of the expeditionary force for the recapture of Preslava. The co-leader was the Duke of Bulgaria, Basil Synkellos. A fifty-year-old and rather unknown officer named Nikephoros Botaneiates also took part in the campaign.
The Byzantine army crossed the mountain range of Aimos and besieged Great Preslava. The city had strong walls and the Pechenegs were able to defend it successfully. After some time, the Byzantines were forced to end the siege due to lack of supplies. It is believed that the man who was in favor of the decision to lift the siege was Basil Synkellos, who did not want Michael to take the credit for a victory in Preslava.

Khan Tyrach foresaw or was informed about the departure of the Byzantines and sent detachments to guard hiden all the passages to the south. The Byzantine army chose to cross a narrow passage of Mount Zygos (the exact location is unknown), where it fell into the ambush of the Pechenegs. Many Byzantines were killed and among them was Basil Synkellos. Michael managed to escape.

A unit of the Byzantine cavalry was trapped there, but under the leadership of Nikephoros Botaneiates managed to regroup and escape from the initial ambush. Botaneiates persuaded his men not to run, but to remain disciplined and in formation against the enemy. They were soon surrounded by the Pechenegs who showered them with arrows but seeing that the Byzantines were not breaking formation and waiting for them in a solid array, they retreated.
At night, the Byzantines crossed the river behind them trying to run away from the enemy; the next day the Pechenegs surrounded them again and attacked, without being able to break the Byzantine lines this time either.
The unit continued to move cautiously and slowly to the south under the constant attacks of the Pechenegs. The Pechenegs shot the horses from under the Byzantines, who then continued on foot. The march continued in this way, under the relentless pursuit of the Pechenegs and with constant fighting, day and night. The Pechenegs attempted to break the formation of the Byzantines during this manoeuvre multiple times, but every attempt was unsuccessful. Nikephoros remained with his men the entire time, even when he was offered a horse to escape.
Nikephoros was able to hold his company together for eleven days despite constant attack. Finally they reached Adrianople and the pursuing Pechenegs retreated.

Noteworthy:
The heroism of Botaneiates in Zygos pass is reported only by one historian, Michael Attaleiates, who during the reign of Botaneiates had taken the high office of Vestes. According to a theory, Attaleiates exaggerates in his narrative in favor of his benefactor. Nevertheless, the story is probably true, because in the aftermath Botaneiates was rewarded with high positions and in the end he ascended the throne.

Aftermath:
Shortly after this failure, in the middle of 1054, the Byzantines persuaded (paying generously) the Pechenegs to make peace. This peace, beyond all expectations, lasted many years. The Pechenegs reappeared as a threat in the late 1080s.
Nikephoros Botaneiates gained great fame and was awarded the title of magistros; in a relatively old age, he made a career in the highest positions in the army. In 1078 he became emperor.