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Callinicum (Phase 1)

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Title
Callinicum (Phase 1)
Description
In the spring of 531 AD, the Persian army, now commanded by the able general Azarethes, again invaded the Byzantine territory of Syria. Belisarius was caught off guard by the new direction of the invasion, yet he quickly marched a …
Source
Publisher
Date
0531-04-19
Scenario#
8
Scenario Description
In the spring of 531 AD, the Persian army, now commanded by the able general Azarethes, again invaded the Byzantine territory of Syria. Belisarius was caught off guard by the new direction of the invasion, yet he quickly marched a small part of his army at Dara to intercept the Persians who had been busy pillaging the countryside. Belisarius received numerous Syrian garrison reinforcements, giving him a force of equal size to the Persians. Still, it was an army that had not fought together before. After outmaneuvering Azarethes, Belisarius wished only to force the Persians to retreat, but much of the Byzantine army clamored to do battle, and ominously, began to openly insult Belisarius. Fearing a mutiny, Belisarius deployed for battle on Easter Sunday. For much of the day both sides engaged in missile fire. The Persians had the advantage in the number of bows, but the Byzantine bows were stronger. Both sides lost heavily, but the more lightly armed Persian cavalry got the worst of it. While this exchange of missiles took place, Azarethes moved most of his heavy cavalry unnoticed to his left and they charged. The Byzantine right wing crumbled and fled. Azarethes’ cavalry now occupied the high ground on the exposed Byzantine flank. The Byzantine army faced imminent destruction.
Location
Callinicum, Syria
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Callinicum took place on Easter Saturday, 19 April 531 CE, between the armies of the Byzantine Empire under Belisarius and a Sasanian cavalry force under Azarethes. After a defeat at the Battle of Dara, the Sasanians moved to invade Syria in an attempt to turn the tide of the war. Belisarius' rapid response foiled the plan, and his troops pushed the Persians to the edge of Syria through maneuvering before forcing a battle in which the Sasanians proved to be the pyrrhic victors.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Sassanid
Byzantine

Geolocation