Battle of Martyropolis
Map of the Roman-Persian border
| date | Summer 588 |
|---|---|
| place | Martyropolis (today's Silvan , Turkey ) |
| output | Eastern Roman victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
Germanus |
Maruzas |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
heavy |
The Battle of Martyropolis was fought near Martyropolis in the summer of 588 between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire . The result of the battle was an Eastern Roman victory.
The Eastern Roman army in the Orient was weakened by a revolt in 588, which broke out due to pay cuts and was directed against the new commander, Priskos . Priskos was attacked by his soldiers and fled the camp. The mutineers chose the dux of Phenicia Libanensis , a certain Germanus, as their temporary leader. Emperor Maurikios then reinstated the old commander Philippikos . Before he could reach the soldiers, the Persians, taking advantage of the confusing position, attacked Eastern Roman territory. They besieged Constantina . Germanus assembled a relief army of a thousand men, which liberated the city. The historian Theophylaktos Simokates reports: "It was only with difficulty that he [Germanus] was able to encourage the Roman regiments with speeches". Germanus was able to gather around 4,000 men for a raid on Persian territory. The arrival of Maurikios' messenger Aristobulus eased the situation in the Eastern Roman camp and discipline was restored. Germanus then led his army north to Martyropolis, from where he undertook an attack on the Arzanene . The attack was intercepted by the Persian general Maruzas and the Eastern Romans had to turn back. The Persians followed them and a battle ensued near Martyropolis that ended in a major Eastern Roman victory: According to Theophylactus Simokates, Maruzas was killed and 3,000 Persians captured, only 1,000 Persians were able to escape to Nisibis . Much booty fell into the hands of the Eastern Romans, above all the Persian battle standard, which was sent to Maurikios in Constantinople together with the head of Maruzas .
literature
- Geoffrey B. Greatrex , Samuel NC Lieu: The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars. Part II AD 363-630. A narrative sourcebook . London and New York 2002, ISBN 0-415-14687-9 .