Battle of Thannuris

Map of the Byzantine-Persian frontier

Date	summer 528 AD
Location	near Dara (Turkey)
Result	Sassanian victory

Belligerents

Byzantine Empire
Ghassanid Kingdom

Sassanid Empire

Commanders and leaders

Belisarius
Coutzes
Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith

Xerxes

Strength

Unkown

30 000

Casualties and losses

Heavy.
800 prisoners
Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith †

Heavy.
Around 500 Immortals

The Battle of Thannuris (or Battle of Mindouos) was fought between the forces of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire under Belisarius and Coutzes and the Persian Sassanid Empire under Xerxes in summer 528, near Dara in northern Mesopotamia. As they were trying to build a fortress in Minduous, the Byzantines were defeated by the Sasanian army. Belisarius managed to flee but the Sasanians destroyed the buildings. Despite their victory, the Persians suffered heavy losses, angering Kavadh I, the Sasanian king of Persia.

After the death of the emperor Justin I in 527, his successor Justinian I was determined to continue the war against the Sassanid Empire. He appointed Belisarius as magister militum of the East and put him in charge of strengthening the Byzantine positions and building a new fortress near Dara to protect the region from Persian raids. Thannuris appeared to be a convenient place for a city and a military force to be stationed but the current fort was vulnerable. He began firstly by overseeing the strengthening of the fortifications.

At the same time, a Persian army under prince Xerxes with 30,000 men invaded Mesopotamia. Perceiving the threat, other Byzantine units and Ghassanid allies joined the forces of Belisarius to protect Roman workers undertaking the construction of the fort.

As the building operations were progressing, the Persian army rose up. Despite the Byzantine efforts, the Persians managed to close up to the walls and breach them.Belisarius tried to counter-attack with his cavalry but was defeated and ordered to withdraw to Dara.

The end of the battle was disastrous for the Byzantine army. Belisarius managed to escape but two commanders were killed and three captured.

Jabalah IV ibn al-Harith, ruler of the Ghassanids, who fought under the Belisarius' command as a Byzantine vassal, fell from his horse and was killed by the Persians.

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