Battle of Callinicum
Part of the Iberian War
Date 19 April 531 Location Ar-Raqqah, northern Syria Result Sassanid victory
Belligerents
Sassanid Empire	Byzantine Empire
Commanders
Spahbod Azarethes	Belisarius
Strength
15,000	25,000
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Heavy

The Battle of Callinicum took place between the armies of the Eastern Roman Empire under the command of General Belisarius and Sassanid Persians under Sepahbod Azarethes on 19 April AD 531 during the Iberian War. The Iberian War was fought from 526 to 532 between the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Empire over the eastern Georgian kingdom Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Events By Place Byzantine Empire April 19 — Belisarius is defeated at the Battle of Callinicum; Mundus Ar-Raqqah ( الرقة, also spelled Rakka) is a city in north central Syria located on the north bank of the Euphrates River, about 160 km Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Spahbod or Spahbed ( Persian: سپهبد in Modern Persian Sepahbod, is derived from the words Spah سپه army bod Azarethes was an Eran spahbod (army commander of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia. Flavius Belisarius (Βελισάριος (505(? – 565 was one of the greatest Generals of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most acclaimed generals in history Flavius Belisarius (Βελισάριος (505(? – 565 was one of the greatest Generals of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most acclaimed generals in history The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Azarethes was an Eran spahbod (army commander of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Events By Place Byzantine Empire April 19 — Belisarius is defeated at the Battle of Callinicum; Mundus The Iberian War was fought from 526 to 532 between the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Empire over the eastern Georgian kingdom Belisarius had been skirmishing with the Persian forces after the Battle of Dara in an attempt to incite a rout, but the Persians were generally successful at Callinicum and both sides withdrew. The Battle of Dara was fought between the Sassanids and the Byzantine Empire in 530.

Contents 1 Battle 2 Outcome 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources

Battle

Belisarius' forces consisted of about 20,000 men and another 5,000 Ghassanid Arab allies, who had been marching down the road leading into the heart of Persian territory along the right bank of the Euphrates in what today would be northern Iraq, then the eastern borders between the Roman Empire and Persia. The Euphrates ( ( Arabic: ar نهر الفرات; Turkish: tr Fırat Syriac: syr ܦܪܬ; Hebrew: he פרת For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The retreating Persian forces numbered about 10,000 with an additional group of 5,000 Lakhmid Arabs. The Lakhmids ( Arabic:) Banu Lakhm ( Arabic:) Muntherids ( Arabic:) were a group of Arab Christians who lived in After several days of forced march, the Persians turned and deployed for battle.

Both groups formed up differently, Belisarius again choosing an "odd" formation that confused his opposing general. In this case he anchored his left flank on the bank of the river with infantry, put the Ghassanid Arab allies on the right flank, and placed several ranks of heavy cavalry, the cataphracts, in the center of the front line. A cataphract was a form of Heavy cavalry used by nomadic eastern Iranian tribes and dynasties and later Ancient Greeks and Romans. In more standard formation the Persians split their forces into two roughly equal groups, with infantry in front of cavalry.

The Persians broke through the Roman right flank, forcing Belisarius to retreat in an effort to re-form his line, but the retreat was followed and soon the Romans found themselves pressed against the river. Here, the Romans were able to resist the Persians and withdraw much of their army across the river. The Persians chose not to follow up this victory, and returned to their withdrawal from Roman territory.

Zachariah says of this battle:

"[The Romans] turned and fled before the Persian attack. Many fell into the Euphrates and were drowned, and others were killed. "^[1]

However, it is unknown what stage of the battle Zachariah was referring to.

Outcome

This defeat was the first of Belisarius' series of unsuccessful wars against Sassanids, which led Byzantine to pay heavy tributes in exchange for a peace treaty. Callinicum ended the first of Belisarius' Persian campaigns, returning all of the land lost to them to Roman rule under Justinian I in the Perpetual Peace agreement signed in September of 532. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or

See also

• Battle of Nisibis
• Battle of Dara

References

1. ^ Historia IX. The Battle of Nisibis took place between the armies of the Eastern Roman Empire under the command of General Belisarius and Sassanid Persians under The Battle of Dara was fought between the Sassanids and the Byzantine Empire in 530. 4,95. 4-95. 26

Sources

• Kaveh Farroukh. Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224-642.

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