All Battles 
Emperors 
Battle of Orontes |
year: 99415 September 994 |
| Defeat of a Byzantine force by the Arabs | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
|
enemy: Arabs (Fatimids)
|
location: Northwestern Syria, on Orontes river
|
accuracy:
●●●●●
|
|
battle type: Pitched Battle |
war: Later Byzantine-Muslim Wars |
modern country:
Syria |
| ▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Basil II Bulgaroktonos) | ▼ The Enemies | |
| Commander: | Duke of Antioch Michael Bourtzes | General Manjutakin |
| Forces: | Unknown | Unknown |
| Losses: | 5,000 |
| Background story: |
| In the 990s, the Byzantine Empire and the Fatimids were engaged in war in Syria, which also involved the Byzantine vassal state of Aleppo, controlled by the Hamdanid dynasty. In 993/994, the Fatimid governor of Damascus, the Turkish general Manjutakin, besieged Apamea, and Michael Bourtzes, the Byzantine duke of Antioch, came forth to relieve the city in alliance with the Hamdanid Arabs of Aleppo. |
The Battle: |
 |
Aftermath: |
| Manjutakin went on to capture Azaz and continued his siege of Apamea. This defeat led to the direct intervention of Byzantine emperor Basil II, and Bourtzes' dismissal from his post and his replacement by Damian Dalassenos. The next year, Basil II led a successful campaign in the region. In 1003, the Fatimid caliphate took control of whole Syria, removing the Hamdanids from power they had held since 890. |
|
|