Wars of the Byzantine Empire 500–1000

■AMIDA, 502–03
A Sassanian Persian siege of Byzantine-held Amida is noted for a spirited defence in which Byzantine soldiers undermined the Persian siege ramp from inside the walls until it collapsed. Nonetheless, the city fell.

■DARA, 530
One of Byzantine Gen Belisarius’ earliest victories. The Byzantine field army of the east, about 25,000 men, was camped near Dara when a 40,000-strong Sassanian force under Firuz approached. Belisarius assumed defensive positions outside the town, digging a series of ditches with narrow passages left for his troops to cross. The Persians began with a cavalry charge that temporarily drove the Byzantine left flank back, but the Byzantines regrouped and the first day concluded with two fights between champions of each army. On the second day, 10,000 more Persians arrived. After arrow exchanges at midday, the Persians launched a general assault. The Byzantines threw them into confusion with a flank attack by cavalry that had been concealed. In the final phase, the Byzantines divided the Persian army into two parts and defeated each in turn.

■CALLINICUM, 19 APRIL 531
A Sassanian cavalry force of 15,000 under Azarethes invaded Byzantine territory; Belisarius brought a mixed Byzantine force of 25,000 to challenge him, pursuing the withdrawing Persians. In an Easter Day battle, both sides began with arrow exchanges. Under their cover, Azarethes reinforced his left-wing cavalry. Their charge then crumbled the Byzantine right wing. The Byzantine cavalry fled. Belisarius’ infantry, in close formation, survived the attack until dark, then escaped.

■CONSTANTINOPLE I, 532
In the Nika revolt, massive rioting and property destruction in Constantinople threatened Emperor Justinian. Eastern veterans under Belisarius and Herul mercenaries under Mundus charged the mob in the Hippodrome, slaughtering an estimated 30,000.

■AD DECIMUM, 13 SEPTEMBER 533
In 533, a Byzantine army under the command of Belisarius invaded the former Roman province of Africa, currently ruled by Vandals under King Gelimer. After his unopposed landing, Belisarius marched rapidly toward Carthage. The Vandal army ambushed the Byzantine force on 13 September at Ad Decimum, the 10-mile marker on the road south of Carthage, at a point where the road passed through a narrow defile. Gelimer’s plan was apparently to bottle the Byzantine force in and attack it from both sides, but the Vandal attack was badly coordinated. The first Vandal contingent, commanded by Gelimer’s brother, Ammatas, was not yet organized for battle when it ran into the Byzantine advance guard. This force was almost completely destroyed, the dead including the Vandal prince. A s