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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 Zombos bridge

year:

1074

11 May 1074
Defeat of a Byzantine army by a rebel force of Norman mercenaries ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Normans
location:
At Zombos bridge on Sangarios river (Sakarya), SW of Ankara, not far from Amorium
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Military Revolts
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael VII Doukas) The Enemies
Commander: Ioannes Doukas Roussel de Bailleul (Urselios)
Forces: 12,000 3,000 horsemen
Losses:

Background story:
In the 11th century, after several centuries in which the military power of Byzantium relied mainly on the thematic army, the use of foreign mercenaries on a large scale began again. There have always been foreign soldiers serving in the Byzantine army, but from the 7th century onward, foreigners had ceased to be organized into autonomous military corps of foreigners based on nationality.
This changed considerably since Basil II, who used the Varangians for the first time. The recruitment of foreign mercenaries escalated in the following decades and peaked around 1050, at a time when Constantine IX Monomachos had to face new external enemies (Seljuks, Pechenegs, Normans) but was also widely challenged at home and had to deal with rebel generals like Maniakes and Tornikios.

Among the foreigners in the service of the Byzantine army, the Frankish mercenaries had a prominent position. The majority of these “Franks” were Frenchmen from Normandy who had been in Southern Italy. They had fought on the side of the Byzantines for the first time during the campaign of Georgios Maniakes in Sicily around 1039. Then they turned against the Byzantines there, but this is another story ...
Some of these Franks chose to offer their services in the East, and in 1047 they first appeared in Constantinople, being recruited by Constantine IX during the revolt of Tornikios.
The Franks were sent later to the eastern frontier and stationed in the border provinces of Asia Minor where problems had begun to arise with various invaders, mainly Seljuk Turks. The presence of the Franks was particularly strong in the thema of Armeniakon and in its capital, Amaseia, where they initially remained for wintering. As the years passed, the presence of the Franks became permanent, and it seems that they were given lands and castles and acquired the status of local rulers, something that obviously happened with the encouragement of the Byzantines who viewed positively the presence of the warlike Franks in this border and strategically important area.
The Franks were excellent warriors and a valuable addition to the Byzantine army. The problem was that they remained loyal only if they were well paid, while they became unpredictable when they saw opportunities for profit beyond their typical military duties. Thus, from time to time they caused serious problems as happened with Urselios’ revolt.

Roussel de Bailleul (or Ursellus de Ballione) called Rouselios or Urselios (Ουρσέλιος) by Byzantine historians was one of the leaders of the Frankish mercenaries who had the title of vestis. He initially entered the service of Byzantium around 1069, as a member of a mercenary company headed by another Frank, Robert Crispin.
Urselios participated in the military campaign of Romanos Diogenes in 1071 which ended in Manzikert, but did not take part in the final battle, as he had been sent to occupy the fortress of Khliat where he was cut off without being able to help the emperor. For many, Urselios' role in that case was questionable.

In the chaos after the defeat at Manzikert, the Seljuks and other Turkoman groups intensified their raids in the Byzantine territories of Asia Minor. To deal with the situation, the new emperor Michael VII Doukas decided to send an army to the east, led by Isaac Komnenos (nephew of the old emperor of the same name). Urselios also took part in this expeditionary force with 400 Frankish knights.
When the army under Isaac arrived in the region of Caesarea, a serious incident broke out between the Franks and the Byzantines, because Isaac punished a Frank for a disciplinary offense. Because of this, Urselius considered himself offended, and at night he took his men and abandoned the Byzantines.
Urselios and his knights headed east and reached Melitini, where with a surprise attack he achieved a small success against the Seljuks. Meanwhile, after his departure, the army under Isaac clashed with the Turks near Caesarea in Cappadocia and suffered a crushing defeat.
After his success in the east, Urselios returned to the center of Asia Minor where he indulged in looting, while forcing many cities to pay him a tribute. It was now clear to the Byzantines that they were not simply dealing with an unruly adventurer, but that Urselios was making moves to establish an independent hegemony in Asia Minor.
This possibility at that time seemed to be a much more serious threat than the Seljuks. After all, the example of Southern Italy was recent, where a handful of Normans out of nowhere managed to prevail and create a state in Byzantine territory. That is why it was decided to send an army against Urselios.

The Battle:
Zombos
The expedition against Urselios was led by the emperor's uncle Ioannes Doukas, who in 1071 had played a leading role in the dethronement of Romanos IV and the ascension of Michael VII to the throne. Later he was sidelined by the new powerful man of Byzantium, the eunuch Nikiforitzis.
The army left Constantinople in the spring of 1074. The campaign involved the son of Ioannes Andronikos Doukas (who had also fought in Manzikert as commander of a unit that did not intervene to help the emperor). The veteran general and kouropalatis Nikephoros Botaneiates (later emperor) also participated.
In total the imperial army consisted of 12,000 men. 10,000 of them were soldiers of the thematic army and the rest were mercenaries: 1,500 Varangians and 500 Franks.

Urselios was in Armeniakon, but when he learned that a Byzantine army was marching against him, he hurried west to confront them. He had with him 3,000 men, most of them knights.
The two rival armies met on May 10th on the Sangarios River (modern Sakarya), at the Zombos Bridge, southwest of Ankara, not far from Amorium. Ioannes Doukas, although he had more men, sent envoys to Urselios, proposing that he capitulate and offering amnesty. It seems that the Byzantines had the expectation that Urselios could still be useful to them, while it is very likely, judging by this initiative, that the real target of the campaign was the Seljuks.
In any case, Urselios contemptuously rejected the Dukas' proposal. Apparently he had complete confidence in his abilities and in the quality of his men.
Doukas was not an experienced soldier and this was evident in this battle. Instead of waiting for the Normans to attack in a position that had a defensive advantage, he chose to cross the river and line up on the opposite bank, with the river on his back. Also, with this move he canceled the option to receive reinforcements from the other regions, something that Urselios was afraid of and it seems that this was the reason why he had rushed to fight the Byzantines.
The imperial army lined up on two separate lines, one behind the other. In the right wing of the first line was the corps of the Frankish mercenaries led by a Frank named “Papas”. In the center of the array was Ioannes Doukas with the elite unit of the Varangians (who at that time were probably Anglo-Saxons). Andronikos Doukas was on the left wing. In the back line was Botaneiates with the least experienced divisions.

The battle began in the early hours of May 11th. Urselios addressed his compatriots who were on the right side of the Byzantine army and persuaded them to join him. Thus united all the Franks attacked the Byzantine center where Ioannes Doukas and the Varangians were. Despite the Byzantines' surprise at the betrayal of the mercenaries, the battle had not been over yet. But in a repetition of what had happened in Manzikert, the rearguard under Botaneiates did not intervene to help. On the contrary, they retreated inexplicably. After that, it was a matter of time. The Varangians in the center fought bravely, but could not resist the superiority of the Franks which was now numerical too. In the end, they were surrounded and succumbed. Ioannes and his son Andronikos were both wounded and taken prisoners.

Immediately after, Urselios reached Chrysopolis opposite Constantinople, aiming to dethrone the emperor. However, Nikiforitzis reacted effectively and, making painful concessions to the Turks, sent them against Urselios.
Urselios was forced to retreat to Nicomedia where, in order to gain the support of the locals, he crowned Ioannes Doukas emperor. He then attacked the Turks, but he failed and was eventually taken prisoner along with Ioannes. After a while, his wife paid a ransom and set him free.
For a while Urselios lived as a ruler in Amasya.

Noteworthy:
Andronikos Doukas was the great-grandfather of emperor Manuel Komnenos and ancestor of Michael VIII Palaiologos, the first emperor of the Palaiologos dynasty.

Aftermath:
It was another serious Byzantine defeat during the horrible 1070s and another blow to the Byzantine power in Asia Minor.
Urselios lived for a while as a prince in Amasya, but was captured by Alexios Komnenos with the help of the Turks. He was released later to help against a revolt, betrayed again, and was executed in 1077.