Battle of Babosis and Zerboule

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Battle of Babosis and Zerboule
Part of: Moors Wars
date Spring 540
place Babosis, Zerboule
output Byzantine victory
Parties to the conflict

Eastern Roman Empire

Maurusian ( Berber )

Commander

Solomon

Jaudas

Troop strength
unknown approx.20,000 (after Charles Diehl )
losses

low

high

Wars of Justinian I.

The Battle of Babosis and Zerboule took place in 540 between the Byzantine Empire and several Numidian Berber tribes of the Maurusians in the province of Byzacena .

Battle of Babosis

Despite considerable efforts on the part of the Byzantines to pacify the province of Byzacena, there were repeated uprisings by the local Maurusians. Solomon finally went on to fortify the settlements of the province and to begin a new campaign against the Maurusians and their leader Jaudas. In the spring of 540 they began sieging a field camp of the Roman commander Gontharis and cut it off from the water supply by diverting the Abigas River . Solomon immediately rushed to Gontharis' aid and the approximately 20,000 Maurusians withdrew to Babosis when the Roman army approached. Here the Roman commander was able to defeat the native Maurusians in open field battle and to flee the foothills of the nearby Aurasion Mountains, today's Atlas Mountains in Tunisia.

Siege of Zerboule

While part of the Moravian army marched west to Mauritania , Jaudas stationed part of his troops in the fortified city of Zerboule and withdrew to the higher fortification of Tumar. Solomon immediately began to siege the slightly fortified city of Zerboule and inflicted considerable losses on the Maurusians in the first three days of the siege. In the end, however, he decided to pursue Jaudas further and wanted to give up the siege of the city. However, since the remaining Maurusians had fled overnight in the face of the hopelessness of their situation, Solomon was finally able to take and loot Zerboule without a fight.

Conquest of Tumar and Geminianos

After the victory in Zerboule, the Roman commander immediately marched on the Tumar fortress and began to siege it despite the scarce water supplies. Finally some Roman troops managed to climb the rock faces of the high mountain fortresses and to flee the already starving Maurusians in impassable terrain with considerable losses. However, Jaudas was able to flee to Mauritania again despite an injury. After the sacking of Tumar and the stationing of a small garrison in the fortress, Solomon set out to conquer the last castle, Geminianos, to be occupied by the Maurusians. This inaccessible mountain fortress was finally taken by climbing and the Romans fell into the hands of considerable booty and the women of the Maurusians who were left behind here.

consequences

After these heavy defeats again, the remaining Moravian rulership of Zabe with the capital Sitiphis under the name Mauretania was prima to pay tribute to the Byzantine Empire. The peace made by both sides lasted four years until the Battle of Cillium and brought a short period of prosperity .

source