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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
Dara, 530
Dara, 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 Pelagonia

(Battle of Kastoria)
year:

1259

September 1259
A Byzantine victory that led to the recapture of Constantinople ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Latins & Greeks
location:
The exact location is unknown; probably near modern Kastoria, Greece or maybe near Bitola in North Macedonia
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Nicaean-Latin Wars
modern country:
Greece
  The Byzantines(emperor:  John IV Laskaris) The Enemies
Commander: sebastocrator John Palaiologos Michael II Despot of Epirus, William II of Achaea
Forces: about 6000 Unknown but more than the Nicaeans
Losses:

Background story:
The emperor of Nicaea Theodoros II Laskaris died in 1258 and was succeeded by his eight-year-old son John IV Laskaris. The highly capable Michael Palaiologos became regent of the minor John IV and was the actual ruler of the state of Nicaea having unofficially taken, from January 1259, the title of co-emperor (in 1261 he would be crowned emperor in Hagia Sophia, as Michael VIII, ousting John Laskaris).

As was often the case, the death of a powerful king (in this case Theodore II) opened the appetite for neighbors and enemies to revisit earlier claims. Thus, the unpredictable Despot of Epirus Michael II Komnenos Doukas remembered his old visions of expansion into Macedonia and Thrace. After all, as early as 1257, when Theodore II was sick and incapacitated, his forces had attacked and taken back some cities from the Nicaeans.

In 1258, Michael II concluded an alliance with the German king of Sicily, Manfred, and with the Prince of Achaea, William II Villeardouin. The alliance was sealed in 1259 with the marriages of the two daughters of Michael II to the allied rulers: Helen Angelina married Manfred and Anna Angelina married Villeardouin.
This alliance seemed very beneficial to all parties, as it served the political ambitions of all three, as well as the secret objective of each of them to get the throne of Constantinople, since the Latin Empire was collapsing.

One of the first actions of Michael Palaiologos, before he even became co-regent, was to send a diplomatic delegation under Theodoros Philis to the despot Michael II of Epirus with proposals for the peaceful coexistence of the two Greek states and for the restoration of the borders of 1252. (But he was mainly troubled by the obvious fact that the alliance of the three was directed primarily against Nicaea.)
The Despot of Epirus treated the ambassadors of Nicaea harshly and sent them away with threats and insults against Palaiologos.

The failure of diplomatic efforts meant that sooner or later there would be war. Michael Palaiologos preferred not to wait to be attacked, and assigned his brother, sebastocrator John Palaiologos, who was awaiting orders in Thessaloniki, to immediately lead an expedition to the west.

John Paleologos together with the general Alexios Stratigopoulos had already prepared an army and quickly headed towards western Macedonia, recruiting along the way any unit they found available. Michael II of Epirus, who was in Kastoria, was surprised by the rapid advance of the Nicaeans and left the area hastily, retreating towards Avlona.
After Kastoria, the sebastocrator John moved against Ahrida which he was prepared to besiege, but the city capitulated and surrendered willingly. He then besieged Deaboli, where he met greater resistance and was forced to use the siege engines he carried with him. Eventually this city of northern Epirus was surrendered, as were some others that belonged to the Despotate.

Michael called his allies for help: Manfred responded by sending 400 German knights (but he himself did not come, contrary to what is reported by some Byzantine historians). William II Villeardouin arrived personally leading an army of Franks, bringing with him almost all the barons of the Principality, but also other Frank lords from Central Greece.
The Epirotes were the bulk of the allied force led by the despot Michael II, who was accompanied by his two sons Nikephoros I and John I Doukas Komnenos. The latter was married to a Vlach princess from Thessaly and had brought with him a body of Vlach warriors.
The Germans of Manfred, the Franks of Villearduin and the forces of the Epirotes were converging towards the north-west to fight sebastocrator John. The two armies met somewhere north of Kastoria in an area that was called "Pelagonia" (and which today is between Greece and North Macedonia). According to the “Chronicle of the Morea”, the forces of Nicaea consisted of a body of recruited Greeks (and a few Bulgarians) reinforced with 2,000 Cuman light horse archers, 300 German knights (“Allammanoi” led by "Dune of Carentane" – probably a fictional figure), 1500 Hungarians, 600 Serbs, 1500 Turks and a few Vlachs. Supposedly they had 27 cavalry units.
According to the Aragonese version of the “Chronicle of the Morea”, Villeardouin's fousato consisted of 8,000 knights and 12,000 lightly armed soldiers, under the leadership of 20 barons. The army of the Epirus was 8,000 horsemen and 18,000 lightly armed soldiers.
However, all these numbers are considered exaggerated by modern historians. The actual strength of the Nicaean troops is estimated to have been around 6,000 men, while the Epirot/Frankish army was slightly larger.

The Battle:
Pelagonia
The sebastocrator John Palaiologos had received instructions from his brother Emperor Michael VIII to avoid, initially, head-on engagement with his powerful opponents, and to apply guerrilla tactics of constant harassment, taking advantage of the flexibility of the Cumans and the rest of the light cavalry. The heavy Byzantine cavalry remained hidden in the surrounding mountains, while the horse archers did not let the enemy to rest, constantly attacking and systematically preventing their supply and the watering of the horses.

The sebastocrator also gathered the local peasants and their families and scattered them with their oxen and animals along the tops of the surrounding hills, so that from afar to give the impression of a huge army.

The critical development occurred the night before the battle, when the despot Michael II of Epirus withdrew! His son Nikiphoros and some confidants left with him. The next morning, when his soldiers learned of his flight, they also deserted, while his other son, John, joined the army of Nicaea with his Vlachs! Thus, the Franks were left alone.
There are various theories as to why the despot Michael suddenly abandoned the alliance:
Hypothesis 1: The despot realized that this massive mobilization of the Franks, combined with the imminent defeat of the Byzantines of Nicaea, would leave the Franks dominant in all of Greece and him their vassal.
Hypothesis 2: According to the Chronicle's account, the sebastocrator sent a smart villager to Michael II to mislead him by describing in the most convincing way the enormous army that the Nicaeans had. This terrified the despot (who was always afraid of battles anyway).
Hypothesis 3: The prevailing theory has to do with John  Comnenus Dukas, the illegitimate son of Michael II, who had complained to his father that some Franks had behaved inappropriately to his beautiful Vlach wife. Michael II mocked him and replied that he had no right to complain about such matters, being an illegitimate himself. This greatly annoyed John, who decided to leave at that moment and defect to the Byzantines of Nicaea. After this development, which deprived him of a significant part of his army, Michael II decided to flee with his people.

Be that as it may, on the day of the battle the Franks found themselves alone to fight against the Greeks of Nicaea. William Villeardouin was seriously considering leaving too, but some barons led by the baron of Karytaina Geoffroy de Bruyères, countered by arguing that it was a matter of honor for them to stay and fight. The Chronicle recounts various heroic and chivalrous tales of the Franks' lofty motives, but the truth is that basically the Franks persisted because they had always underestimated the Greeks, who they saw as inferior warriors.

On the day of the battle, the sebastocrator lined up his army as follows: the Cumans were in the vanguard, behind them the German Knights and the Hungarians after them, then the Serbs and the Bulgarians and finally the Byzantines and the Turks.
The formation of the Frankish army was 3 phalanxes of cavalry followed by two phalanxes of infantry.

The Frank knights made one of their usual charges targeting the German mercenaries who were the elite part of the Byzantine army. The German duke was killed by the baron of Karytaina. The German unit was almost wiped out. But the Cuman and Hungarian horse archers with continuous shots killed the Frankish horses, depriving the knights of their strong point which was the cavalry attack. The foot soldiers of Achaea when they saw the collapse of the cavalry, fled and the without-horses knights surrendered.

Prince William of Achaea escaped and hid in a nearby haystack, where he was soon spotted and captured. The Franks suffered heavy casualties and most of the survivors were taken prisoner. A few groups that retreated in an organized manner were exterminated by the Vlachs of Thessaly. Eventually the only ones who returned to Peloponnese were the war prisoners who were freed after paying ransoms.

Aftermath:
The Principality of Achaea, which had become the strongest French state in Greece in the aftermath of the 4th Crusade, was now reduced to a Nicaean vassalage. The Greek victory led directly to the recapture in Constantinople in 1261.