Artabazes (military officer)
Encyclopedia
Artabazes was a Byzantine military officer, recorded taking part in the Gothic War. He was killed just prior to the Battle of Faventia. The main source about him is Procopius
.
. His unit consisted of Persian
troops, transferred from the fortress Sisauranon to the Italia Peninsula. He is first recorded in 542 as an archon
of the Byzantine army
, but his rank is not specified in primary sources. He was one of the Byzantine troops marching against the city of Verona
, an Ostrogoth stronghold. The Byzantine forces consisted of about 12,000 men, with Constantianus and Alexander
as co-commanders.
The Byzantines managed to bribe or otherwise win over Marcianus, one of the sentinels of the city. He was to open a city gate at night. A small Byzantine unit would seize the gate and prepare the entry of the rest of the army. Artabazes was chosen to lead the operation. His unit for the night consisting of a 100 hand-picked men. The small force did enter the city. But the rest of the Byzantine army failed to arrive on time. The co-commanders were allegedly involved in a nightly dispute over how to divide the plunder once the city was taken. The delay proved disastrous. The Gothic garrison had time to organize itself and advance against Artabazes. They regained control of the gate, leaving the Byzantine unit trapped within the city. The fighting continued, with Artabazes and his men retreating towards the battlement
. Their only way of escape was to jump down from the city walls
. They did so, with several of them killed by the fall.
Artabazes survived the battle mostly unhurt. He returned to the Byzantine camp. He bitterly criticized the delay that cost them victory. They Byzantine army retreated towards Faventia
. They eventually camped next to a stream
variously known as Anemo or Lamone. There they were met by Totila
, King of the Ostrogoths (r. 541-552), marching against them with about 5,000 men. Artabazes is recorded urging his superiors to attack the enemy forces while they were still crossing the river. He argued that the disorder would gain their side an advantage. His idea was rejected.
While the rival armies were preparing for battle, Artabazes was engaged in single combat
against Valaris. The latter was a champion of the Goths, reportedly a giant of a man. Artabazes managed to slay his opponent. But he was mortally wounded himself and died shortly after. Procopius praises him as a good soldier.
Totila won the Battle of Faventia, even managing to capture the imperial standards. He then took the initiative in invading Tuscany
and besieging Florence
.
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
.
Biography
Artabazes was a native of Byzantine ArmeniaByzantine Armenia
Byzantine Armenia is the name given to the Armenian part of the Byzantine Empire. The size of the territory varied over time, depending on the degree of control the Byzantines had over Armenia....
. His unit consisted of Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
troops, transferred from the fortress Sisauranon to the Italia Peninsula. He is first recorded in 542 as an archon
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
of the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
, but his rank is not specified in primary sources. He was one of the Byzantine troops marching against the city of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, an Ostrogoth stronghold. The Byzantine forces consisted of about 12,000 men, with Constantianus and Alexander
Alexander (discussor)
Alexander was a senior financial official of the Byzantine Empire, active in the reign of Justinian I . His title is reported as "discussor" in Latin and logothetēs in Greek. He was reportedly nicknamed "Scissors" or "Snips" , for trimming down the size of gold coins...
as co-commanders.
The Byzantines managed to bribe or otherwise win over Marcianus, one of the sentinels of the city. He was to open a city gate at night. A small Byzantine unit would seize the gate and prepare the entry of the rest of the army. Artabazes was chosen to lead the operation. His unit for the night consisting of a 100 hand-picked men. The small force did enter the city. But the rest of the Byzantine army failed to arrive on time. The co-commanders were allegedly involved in a nightly dispute over how to divide the plunder once the city was taken. The delay proved disastrous. The Gothic garrison had time to organize itself and advance against Artabazes. They regained control of the gate, leaving the Byzantine unit trapped within the city. The fighting continued, with Artabazes and his men retreating towards the battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
. Their only way of escape was to jump down from the city walls
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
. They did so, with several of them killed by the fall.
Artabazes survived the battle mostly unhurt. He returned to the Byzantine camp. He bitterly criticized the delay that cost them victory. They Byzantine army retreated towards Faventia
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
. They eventually camped next to a stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
variously known as Anemo or Lamone. There they were met by Totila
Totila
Totila, original name Baduila was King of the Ostrogoths from 541 to 552 AD. A skilled military and political leader, Totila reversed the tide of Gothic War, recovering by 543 almost all the territories in Italy that the Eastern Roman Empire had captured from his Kingdom in 540.A relative of...
, King of the Ostrogoths (r. 541-552), marching against them with about 5,000 men. Artabazes is recorded urging his superiors to attack the enemy forces while they were still crossing the river. He argued that the disorder would gain their side an advantage. His idea was rejected.
While the rival armies were preparing for battle, Artabazes was engaged in single combat
Single combat
Single combat is a fight between two single warriors which takes place in the context of a battle between two armies, with the two often considered the champions of their respective sides...
against Valaris. The latter was a champion of the Goths, reportedly a giant of a man. Artabazes managed to slay his opponent. But he was mortally wounded himself and died shortly after. Procopius praises him as a good soldier.
Totila won the Battle of Faventia, even managing to capture the imperial standards. He then took the initiative in invading Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
and besieging Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
.