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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 Adramyttium

(Adramyttion)
year:

1205

19 March 1205
A victory of the Latins against the Byzantines of Nicaea ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Latin Crusaders
location:
Adramyttium, modern Edremit in northwestern Asia Minor
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Fourth Crusade
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Theodore I Laskaris) The Enemies
Commander: Constantine Laskaris or Theodoros Mangaphas Henry of Flanders
Forces: Unknown Unknown (certainly outnumbered)
Losses: heavy

Background story:
In 1204, Constantinople was taken by the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade. This led to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of the Latin Empire. Baldwin of Flanders was crowned emperor in Hagia Sophia in May 1204.
The Greek resistance continued in many areas, not coordinated and not always successful. The Crusaders had particular difficulty in advancing to Asia Minor where they had to face the tough Akrites, the various semi-independent local rulers and, most importantly, the state founded by Theodore Laskaris in Nicaea, which would become the main rival of the Latins.
Meanwhile, the forces of the Franks were growing by all sorts of adventurers. Many of them came from the old crusader states in Cilicia and Syria and were familiar with the terrain. They were mainly Franks, but also Turkopols, Armenians, etc. These “Armenians” advised Henry of Flanders (brother of Baldwin and, later, Latin emperor) to occupy the city of Adramyttion (modern-day Edremit), which would be a first step in the conquest of Asia Minor.
Henry adopted the idea and starting from Abydos moved with a small force of knights to Adramyttion. The city soon surrendered.

Theodoros Laskaris, estimating that the presence of the Franks there would be a serious threat, organized a relatively large army to counterattack. He assigned the command to his brother, Constantine Laskaris, who, incidentally, had been elected Byzantine emperor after the Latins had entered Constantinople in 1204, but had never been crowned or recognized as emperor, nor did he seem to have the ambition to be an emperor.
However, according to the historian Choniatis, the leader of the Byzantine army was another man: Theodoros Mangaphas also known as “Moreothodoros” (= crazy Theodoros), who in 1189, had become independent from Byzantium and had been proclaimed King of Philadelphia. He was later arrested, but was released in 1204 and became ruler of Philadelphia again.
The case of Mangaphas being the leader of the campaign is more realistic, because he was probably one of the few local rulers who at that time could organize a considerable army. We should also keep in mind that the information that Constantine Lascaris was the leader is recorded by a Frankish historian (Geoffrey Villehardouin) who may have preferred to record that (the future emperor) Henry defeated an emperor (though not unofficial) instead of the crazy Theodoros. (This is a completely hypothetical remark.)

The Battle:
Adramyttium
Henry of Flanders
On March 19, 1205, the Byzantine army appeared in front of the walls of Adramyttioν, initially surprising the Franks. Henry (who was capable and experienced in war), not wanting to remain trapped within the walls of Adramyttiον and apparently having confidence in the supremacy of his knights, opened the gates and went out with his heavy cavalry to face the Byzantines.
The two opponents engaged in a close-knit, hand-to-hand battle. The Franks applied a simple tactic that always had an effect on the Byzantines at that time: the iron-clad knights rushed with their horses and with their lances in the middle of the Byzantine formation, who could not face them and had to retreat.
The same thing happened that day: although the Franks were outnumbered, the Byzantine ranks were scattered and began a disorderly retreat with heavy losses. The Franks captured a large amount of weaponry and treasure
Konstantinos Laskaris was probably killed in the battle, as his name is not mentioned again.

Noteworthy:
As mentioned above, the leader of the Byzantines was either Constantine Laskaris or Theodoros Mangaphas. We do not know for sure. Perhaps both of them participated in the campaign or maybe there were two consecutive attacks (and defeats) of the Byzantines in Adramyttion.
The most probable scenario is that Magkafas led the Byzantines in the battle of Adramyttion.

Aftermath:
It was the first major battle, after the fall of Constantinople, between the Latins and the Byzantines. The victory of the Franks had no major effects because they had serious problems in other fronts and they did not continue their efforts.
Theodoros Laskaris proclaimed himself Byzantine emperor in Nicaea. This happened probably shortly after the battle and is probably related to the loss of his brother.
Henry became Latin emperor a month later (1205-1216) succeeding his brother.