Battle of Thannuris

Battle of Thannuris
Part of the Iberian War

Map of the Byzantine-Persian frontier
DateSummer 528 AD
Location
Thannuris, near Dara (modern Tell Tuneinir, Syria)
Result Sasanian victory
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire
Ghassanids
Isaurians
Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Belisarius
Bouzes
Coutzes (POW)
Proclian 
Basil (POW)
Sebastian (POW)
Vincent
Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith 
Peroz Mihran
Xerxes
Strength

est. 40,000+

  • 30,000 cavalry
  • 10,000+ infantry
30,000
Casualties and losses

Heavy

  • 800 POWs

Heavy

The Battle of Thannuris (Tannuris) (or Battle of Mindouos[1]) was fought between the forces of the Eastern Roman Empire under Belisarius and the Persian Sasanian Empire under Xerxes in summer 528, near Dara in northern Mesopotamia.

The attempt to build a new frontier fort at Thannuris/Mindouos by the Byzantines triggered a Sasanian military response. The Byzantines further reinforced the area, but the Sasanian force managed to defeat their superior opponent by stratagem and many Byzantines were killed or captured along with their commanders. The Sasanians demolished the partially-built fort, but their losses were high and they did not advance further.

  1. ^ Conor Whately, Battles and Generals: Combat, Culture, and Didacticism in Procopius, 2006, Netherlands, p.71 & 238

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