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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 Apros

(Aprus)
year:

1305

July 1305
Defeat of the Byzantine army by the Catalan Company ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Catalans
location:
Near the ancient city of Apros in the European part of Turkey, near the modern village Kermeyan, 32km west of the sea of Marmaras
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
Pitched Battle
war:
Wars of the Catalan Company
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael IX Palaiologos) The Enemies
Commander: Co-Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos Without a leader
Forces: about 5,000 206 horsemen, 1,256 foot soldiers, 500 Turks
Losses:

Background story:
In 1303, the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos hired a force of Catalan mercenaries under Roger de Flor to campaign against the Turks. The Catalan Company consisted of 6,500 men: 1500 knights and 4000 Almogavars (lightly-clad foot-soldiers of the Crown of Aragon) plus auxiliaries. Most of them were Catalans and Aragonese but there were also Sicilians, French, Calabrians etc. In the course of their operations in the East, they recruited 3000 Turkish horsemen.
Their costly service came with success, driving back the Turks in parts of Asia Minor. At Philadelphia, 20,000 Turks were killed by the Catalans. The campaign was one of Byzantium's few victories in an awfully-managed war.
But soon this cooperation went awry: The emperor was unable to pay the Catalans, while the mercenaries began to pillage and commit atrocities in the Byzantine territories. At the end of 1304 they settled in Gallipoli, living at the expense of the local population and using the city as a base for their marauding raids in the surrounding area.
The Catalan Company was becoming a serious problem. In addition, their leader Roger de Flore (who had also been given the title of Caesar) made plans to establish his own independent principality.
The Byzantines had to find a solution. On April 30, 1305 the co-emperor Michael IX invited de Flor to Adrianople and had him assassinated there. Along with de Flor, 300 horsemen and 1000 footmen who accompanied him were killed. The plan was executed by a unit of Alans who at that time had joined the Byzantine army.
The assassination of the leader of the Catalan Company did not have the expected results. Not only was the Company not disbanded, but its attacks became more severe. The period of destruction and misery experienced in Thrace after the murder of Roger de Flor became known as “The Catalan Revenge”.

The Battle:
Apros
Catalan foot soldier
After the murder of their leader, the remnants of the Catalan company entrenched themselves in Gallipoli, where they slaughtered all the Greeks. A strong Byzantine force approached the city, but the Catalans counterattacked outside the walls and repulsed the Byzantines who had unexpected casualties (the Catalan chronicle by Muntaner gives 26,000 dead, the Byzantine historians 200).
After the failure to finish off the mercenaries in Gallipoli, the co-emperor Michael IX wanting to continue the effort gathered an army and marched from Adrianople to Gallipoli.
The Catalans were informed about this and instead of waiting in Gallipoli, they came out of the city and hurried to meet the enemy, carefully choosing the battlefield, near the city of Apros in Eastern Thrace. The Catalans, who were without a leader, were left with only 206 cavalry and 1,256 infantry, while they also had with them a unit of Turkish cavalry, about 500. Around 100 had remained behind in Gallipoli.
Michael's force consisted, for the most part, of Alans and Tourkopols (Christianized Turks) mercenaries. He also had with him units of the regular army from Macedonia, a few Vlachs, mounted Pronoia militia (landowners, fugitives from M.Asia) and finally his personal guard which was the heavy cavalry. Τhe exact number is not known, but the total Byzantine force must have been around 5,000. More than half were foreign mercenaries (Alans, Tourkopols).
The Catalans chose to line up on top of a hill outside Apros. The formation was 4 divisions in dense formation. All were on foot, as the horsemen had dismounted and were with the rest. One of the divisions consisted of the Turkish allies.
In other words, it was a clearly defensive formation. After all, the strong point of the Catalan Company was the very disciplined and compact act of their infantry which could not be easily broken up and was never drawn into disorderly pursuits of retreating opponents (in contrast to their unruly behavior after battles).

The Byzantines, realizing their numerical advantage, attacked. First the mounted Alans and Tourkopols rushed into battle. The Catalans remained steadfast in their positions and inflicted casualties on the opponents with their crossbows and spears.
As the first attacks did not bring results, something decisive happened: the Tourkopols changed side and joined the Catalan force (perhaps they had not been paid), while it seems that the other mercenaries, the Alans, were discouraged and left the battlefield.
The Byzantine army began to disorganize and retreat. It seemed that Michael IX, once again, would lose control. He ordered a general cavalry charge. But the Byzantines were fewer now, while the Almogavars remained steady in their advantageous position, cutting down those who approached them. Michael Palaiologos himself (described in the Chronicle of the Catalans as a fighter of extraordinary ability) was in serious danger when his horse was killed, but managed to escape when one of his men gave him his own horse and the co-emperor was saved by fleeing behind the city walls.
The end of the day found the Catalans holding their positions with minimal losses and the Byzantines retreating, disappointed, to Apros.

The next morning, the Catalans, who had not moved from the hill, waited for the Byzantines to continue the battle. But the losses of the Byzantines were heavy, and they had also lost all the mercenaries, so the battle ended there.
The defeat was truly heavy, and left Byzantium without an army, with the result that there was no substantial defense against the Catalan Company's frenzied plundering of Thrace in the period that followed.

Aftermath:
The Catalans went on to ravage Thrace for 2 years, before they invaded Latin-held South Greece and won at Cephisus in 1311 to seize control of the Duchy of Athens.