Byzantine Battles: Battle of Aquae Saravenae

▶

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

Battle of Aquae Saravenae	year: 979 24 March 979
Victory of the imperial forces under Phokas against the rebel General Skleros	★ ★ ★ ★ ★

enemy: (Civil War)	location: Outside modern Kırşehir, in the middle of Asia Minor	accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type: Pitched Battle	war: Military Revolts	modern country: Turkey

	▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Basil II Bulgaroktonos)	▼ The Enemies
Commander:	General Bardas Phokas	General Bardas Skleros
Forces:	Unknown	Unknown
Losses:

Background story:

In support of Emperor Basil II against the usurper Bardas Skleros, the Byzantine general Bardas Phokas was defeated at Pangaleia. He could not however prevent Phokas from regrouping and continuing his march eastwards. Skleros was forced to spend the winter in Anatolia, away from his objective -Constantinople- and his position weakened. The imperial forces on the other hand, had been reinforced by an Iberian (Georgian) unit of 12000 horsemen dispatched by David of Tao, under the command of the general-monk Ioannes Tornikis.

The Battle:

Clash between the armies of Skleros and Phokas

On 24 March 979, this joint Ibero-Byzantine army in a surprise attack inflicted a crushing defeat on the rebels, at Aquae Saravenae. Skleros sustained a grave wound in the head in a personal combat with Phokas and the rumor of his death was the cause that put his army to flight.
However, Skleros himself was finally able to escape.

Noteworthy:

Tornikis, the leader of the Georgian regiment, became later the founder of the Iviron Monastery in mount Athos. He is a saint of the church of Georgia.

Aftermath:

After this battle, the rebellion was subdued without difficulty. Skleros and his family found refuge in the court of the caliph of Baghdad in 980 and for 6 years. Bardas Phokas himself later revolted and asked Skleros for help. Skleros agreed, but their cooperation did not go well. However, after the death of Focas, Skleros became the leader of the revolt. He failed and was arrested, blinded and exiled. In 991, a few days before his death, he was pardonned by the empepror.