Cours (Byzantine general)
Encyclopedia
Cours or Curs was an East Roman (Byzantine)
general of the 6th century.
He is recorded as being a "Scythian", which in effect implies most probably a Hunnic
(or perhaps Gothic
) origin. Nothing is known of his early life, except that he served in Italy in the 550s under Narses
.
He first appears in 574, after the outbreak of a new war
with Sassanid Persia in 572, when he was placed, along with general Theodorus, in command of the Byzantine army of Armenia
. Probably late in the same year or in 575 they invaded Caucasian Albania
, taking hostages from the Albani, Sabiri and other tribes to ensure their loyalty. They resumed operations in Albania in the next year, but their absence from Armenia was exploited by the Persian shah Khosrau I
(r. 531–579), who passed through Armenia unmolested and invaded Byzantine territory, reaching as far as Sebastea; there however he was confronted by the converging armies of Curs and the magister militum
per Orientem
, Justinian
. While Khosrau, confronted by a larger army than he expected, refused to offer battle, Curs on his own initiative attacked, drove part of the Persian army back, and captured most of the Persian baggage train.
In 578, Cours served with Maurice
then the magister militum per Orientem and future emperor, on his first, successful campaign against the Persians. In the autumn of that year, Maurice sent him across the river Tigris
to plunder Persian territory. In the next year, Cours and John Mystacon
together led Byzantine forces in Armenia, winning a victory over the Persians that resulted in the capture of the Persian commander himself and his son, as well as much booty. In late 582 however, serving as John's hypostrategos (deputy commander), through his inaction (allegedly due to jealousy towards John), the Byzantines were defeated in battle. He disappears thereafter from the sources, and may have been dismissed in the same year.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
general of the 6th century.
He is recorded as being a "Scythian", which in effect implies most probably a Hunnic
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
(or perhaps Gothic
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
) origin. Nothing is known of his early life, except that he served in Italy in the 550s under Narses
Narses
Narses was, with Belisarius, one of the great generals in the service of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I during the "Reconquest" that took place during Justinian's reign....
.
He first appears in 574, after the outbreak of a new war
Roman-Persian War of 572–591
This was a war fought between the Sassanid Empire of Persia and the Roman Empire, termed by modern historians as the Byzantine Empire. It was triggered by pro-Roman revolts in areas of the Caucasus under Persian hegemony, although other events contributed to its outbreak...
with Sassanid Persia in 572, when he was placed, along with general Theodorus, in command of the Byzantine army of Armenia
Roman Armenia
From the end of the 1st century BC onwards, Armenia was, in part or whole, subject to the Roman Empire and its successor, the East Roman or Byzantine Empire...
. Probably late in the same year or in 575 they invaded Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
, taking hostages from the Albani, Sabiri and other tribes to ensure their loyalty. They resumed operations in Albania in the next year, but their absence from Armenia was exploited by the Persian shah Khosrau I
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
(r. 531–579), who passed through Armenia unmolested and invaded Byzantine territory, reaching as far as Sebastea; there however he was confronted by the converging armies of Curs and the magister militum
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
per Orientem
Diocese of the East
The Diocese of the East was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the western Middle East, between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia...
, Justinian
Justinian (general)
Justinian was an East Roman aristocrat and general, and a member of the ruling Justinian dynasty. As a soldier, he had a distinguished career in the Balkans and in the East against Sassanid Persia...
. While Khosrau, confronted by a larger army than he expected, refused to offer battle, Curs on his own initiative attacked, drove part of the Persian army back, and captured most of the Persian baggage train.
In 578, Cours served with Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
then the magister militum per Orientem and future emperor, on his first, successful campaign against the Persians. In the autumn of that year, Maurice sent him across the river Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
to plunder Persian territory. In the next year, Cours and John Mystacon
John Mystacon
John, surnamed Mystacon, "the mustachioed", , was a prominent East Roman general in the wars with Sassanid Persia during the reigns of Byzantine emperors Tiberius II and Maurice ....
together led Byzantine forces in Armenia, winning a victory over the Persians that resulted in the capture of the Persian commander himself and his son, as well as much booty. In late 582 however, serving as John's hypostrategos (deputy commander), through his inaction (allegedly due to jealousy towards John), the Byzantines were defeated in battle. He disappears thereafter from the sources, and may have been dismissed in the same year.