<>
thyreos

Byzantine Battles

<>
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
   4 th   century
   5 th   century
   6 th   century
   7 th   century
   8 th   century
   9 th   century
  10 th   century
  11 th   century
  12 th   century
  13 th   century
  14 th   century
  15 th   century

Aspis

Recapture of Constantinople

year:

1261

25 July 1261
The Byzantines recaptured Constantinople after 57 years of Latin occupation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
enemy:
Latins
location:
Constantinople
 accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type:
City Capture
war:
Nicaean-Latin Wars
modern country:
Turkey
  The Byzantines(emperor:  Michael VIII Palaiologos) The Enemies
Commander: General Alexius Strategopoulos Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople
Forces: 800 Unknown
Losses:

Background story:
After the Fall of Constantinople to the Latins of the 4th Crusade in 1204, a first attempt was made by the Byzantines of Nicaea to recapture the capital in 1235 during the reign of John III Doukas Vatatzes.That attempt failed but under Vatatzes, the Nicaeans seized most of Thrace and Macedonia from Epirus and Bulgaria, becoming the strongest state of the region.
Reduced to Constantinople and the territory immediately surrounding it, surrounded on east and west by Nicaea and without sufficient funds to attract any armed support, the Latin Empire seemed ripe for the taking by the time of Vatatzes' death. The Latin Empire gained a short reprieve with Vatatzes' death, as his son and successor Theodore II Laskaris (r. 1254–1258) was forced to confront numerous attacks on his territories in the Balkans.

Soon after Theodore II's death, the ambitious Michael VIII Palaiologos ascended the throne, at first ostensibly as guardian of the infant John IV Laskaris (r. 1259–1261).With Michael Paleologos, Nicaea became the master of the game in the region, especially after the victory in the battle of Pelagonia, in the summer of 1259.
Thus Michael VIII Palaiologos was now able to turn against Constantinople. An initial attempt in 1260, focusing on the Galata district, failed. But Michael was not intimidated. Although he made a peace treaty with the Latin emperor Baldwin II, he immediately began preparations for a new attempt to take the city.
An additional motivation for Michael was certainly his desire to consolidate his position on the throne, which in 1259 was not yet stabilized, as he formally ruled with the rightful emperor, the minor John IV Laskaris.

The Battle:
Constantinople
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Preparing his final attack against Constantinople, Emperor Michael VIII concluded an alliance with Genoa, and in July 1261, sent his general Alexios Strategopoulos with a small advance force of 800 soldiers, most of them Cumans, to keep a watch on the Bulgarians and scout the defending positions of the Latins in the surroundings of the capital.
When this Byzantine force reached the village of Selymbria (60 km from the capital), Strategopoulos was informed from local farmers (thelematarioi –ex mercenaries) that the entire Latin garrison, and the Venetian fleet, were absent conducting a raid against the Nicaean island of Daphnousia. Although initially hesitant, due to both the small size of his force, which might be destroyed if the Latin army returned, and because he would exceed his orders, Alexios eventually decided not to lose such a golden opportunity to retake the city.
On the night of July 25, 1261, Alexios and his men approached the city walls and hid at a monastery near the Pegae Gate. Alexios sent a detachment of his men, who, led by some of the thelematarioi, made their way to the city through a secret passage. They attacked the walls from the inside, surprised the guards and opened the gate, allowing the Byzantine force entry into the city.

The Latins were completely taken by surprise and after a short battle, the Byzantines took control of the Land western walls. Then they advanced in the interior. Some of the Latin soldiers tried to resist and skirmishes ensued, which, however, did not prevent the Byzantines from quickly occupying most of the city. Many of the Greeks of the city enthusiastically welcomed the Byzantine soldiers. Stratigopoulos took advantage of their presence and put them on the walls to give the enemy the impression that he had invaded with a large army.
Panic ensued between the Latins and the Venetians of Constantinople who rushed to the port, trying to find a ship and leave. The Latin emperor Baldwin II was at the palace of the Blachernas and ran to the seaside palace of Bucoleon from where he boarded a ship and departed for Evia. He was so upset that he forgot to take the imperial insignia with him. Stratigopoulos, acting prudently, let the Latins run to the shores without pursuing them and without harassing them.
As there was an immediate danger of the return of the Venetian fleet from Daphnousia, Stratigopoulos ordered the burning of the Venetian and other Western quarters, which were located along the Golden Horn. When the Venetian fleet, consisting of 30 ships, returned, it could do nothing but rescue the Latins and sail to other Latin-occupied areas. It should be noted that the fleet was not prepared and did not have supplies with it, so the refugees suffered and many died on the journey from hardship and starvation.

At the end of the day, Stratigopoulos has secured Constantinople. He gave the insignia of the Latin emperor to a messenger and sent him to Nicaea. Michael Paleologos learned the news from his sister Irene Evlogia Palaiologina and at first did not believe her. But when he saw the imperial emblems, he was convinced and left for Constantinople.

Aftermath:
The recapture of Constantinople meant the restoration of the Byzantine Empire by the Nicaeans, and on August 15, the day of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Emperor Michael entered the city in triumph and was crowned at the Hagia Sophia.
A new era for Byzantium started.