The Byzantine Empire 330 a.d. – 1453 a.d.

1. The Byzantine Empire330 a.d. – 1453 a.d. MOI

2. Readings • Jones, The Art of War in the Western World, pp 92-104 • Preston and Wise, pp 44-54

3. Learning Objectives • Understand the Byzantine military philosophy • Outline the Byzantine military organization • Identify tactical and philosophical innovations • Identify some of the key leaders of the Byzantine Empire • Trace succession of battles which culminated in fall of Constantinople

4. Background • 330 a.d. – After invasion of Rome, Constantine I move the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantines and renames it Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) • New Empire • Survival oriented, concerned with defense rather than expansion. • Many invasion attempts, survival depended on military strength • Church had close ties with state • Economically prosperous • Centralized autocratic rule maintained

5. Military Philosophy • Defense Orientated • Due to scarcity of resources to make war, especially soldiers, great emphasis on good “generalship” • Constantly analyzed their enemies and studied all aspects of war carefully • Published studies called Treatises

6. Military Tactics • Doctrines Emphasized • Coordinated action • Between weapons systems (missiles and shock) • Between armies (infantry and cavalry) • Envelopment, preferred left flank • Always retained fresh reserves • Native Born Soldiers • Still had to use some mercenaries but much less than west

7. Military Tactics Continued • No code of honor • Ruses used often, not worried about morality of war • Bribery and trickery were used to coerce enemy • Used psychological warfare on enemies • Used false propaganda to raise moral of own troops • Great emphasis on archery marksmanship and constant practice in use of weapons

8. Military Organization • The Cataphract (disciplined heavy cavalry) • Symbolized Byzantine empire in same way the legions represented Rome • Well trained and drilled • Numerous/Banda (300-400 Men) • Commanded by Tribune or Drungarios • Basic level of military • Equivalent to a modern day Battalion with same organization

9. Military Organization Cont. • Turma (5-8 Numeri) • Commanded by a Trumach • Equivalent to modern day Division • Thema (2-3 Turmi) • Commanded by a Strategos • Equivalent to a Corps

10. Central Front Line • Central Second Line • Reserve/Rear Security • Close in Envelopment/Security Flank Units • Distant Envelopment/Screening Units

11. Military Innovations • Calvary • Stirrups-One of Most Important Inventions • 5th or 6th century from China • Allowed man to use full force of the lance • Could stand up and gain height • Poorer riders could still perform well • “Greek Fire” • Even today unsure of what exactly its chemical composition was, kept so secret it was forgotten • Shot out of hollow tubes on ships, was like liquid fire, stuck to everything, could not be extinguished

12. Military Innovations Continued • Logistics • Known as Baggage Train • Signal Service • Messengers • Signals Corps • Signal fires • Chaplain Corps • Medical Corps • Each numerous usually had a doctor, a surgeon, and 8-10 stretcher bearers • Engineer Corps

13. Justinian • Ruled from 527-565 a.d. • Desires to reunite East and West • Felt that he was head of the Church and his wars took on character of crusades, it was his duty to suppress the Arians and convert them to Christianity • Successful reconquest in Africa and Italy • Excellent use of weaponry, mobility and shock of his horse archers • Brilliant leadership of Belisarius and Narses

14. Belisarius • 529-549 a.d. • At 27 became Justinian’s bodyguard • Chosen to lead the main army • Daras (530 a.d.) • Ad Decimum (533 a.d.) • Tricameron (533 a.d.)

15. Daras • Persian Frontier 530 a.d. • 40,000 Persians vs. 25,000 under Belisarius • Took and offensive defense, counted on Persian aggressiveness and built trenches around fortress of Daras • Persians eventually forced into trenches and trapped, used combined forces of cavalry and infantry to destroy them

16. Ad Decimum • Africa 530 a.d. • Justinian wants Carthage for Political and Religious reasons • Belisarius lands with 15,000 troops • Vandal King Gelimer attempts to ambush Belisarius at Ad Decimum • His planned was extremely complicated and called for 3 simultaneous ambushes • Difficult with no clocks???

17. Ad Decimum Continued • Attacks not timed well and failed • Gelimer had some successes and chances to attack but never exploited them • Belisarius rallied his troops, dispersed the Vandals and entered Carthage on September 15th

18. Tricameron • Gelimer remaining forces harass Belisarius • Gelimer retreats to 18 miles west of Carthage at Tricameron and masses a force of 50,000 • Belisarius marches on Tricameron • Gelimer again leave initiative to enemy and loses the cavalry battle • Gelimer finally surrender to Belisarius in 534 a.d.

19. Belisarius • Justinian is jealous of Belisarius and orders him back • Sends him to Sicily where he is very successful, and Justinian brings him back again due to jealousy • Sends him back to Sicily where he is again somewhat successful but is denied complete success by Justinian who refuses to send him enough support

20. Belisarius’s Keys to Success • Developed new tactics • Assumed he would have inferior numbers • Induced his enemies to attack him under his conditions • Used lack of numbers as asset, more mobile, flexible • Strategy more psychological • Knew how to provoke enemies into indulging natural instinct for direct assault • Took advantage of Persian feelings of superiority

21. Narses • 551 a.d. Goths had recovered losses and Justinian needed a major effort in Italy in order to keep it • Puts Narses in command at age 73 • Major Battle • Taginae (552 a.d.)

22. Taginae • Narses land in Italy with ~20,000 • Gothic forces ~50,000 • Narses lets Goths attack • Narses forms for battle: • 8000 dismounted cavalry formed into phalanx • 4000 foot archers on each flank • 500 mounted cavalry behind each wing of archers as protection

23. Battle Map

24. Taginae Continued • Goths attempt to push through phalanx but are picked off by archers on flanks and sustain heavy losses • Italy is retaken • Last major battle under Justinian’s Rule

25. Maurice 582-603 A.D. • Selected as heir to the throne • Successful officer in the Military • Before taking throne, had published “Strategicon” a handbook for Field Commanders • Realigned the military structure

26. Maurice’s Military Reforms • Introduces the concept of Turma and Thema • Used unequal numbers so enemy could not calculate the numbers of the whole army • Took away Generals powers of patronage by making officer promotions above Centurion (numerous commander) a direct appointee of the Emperor • Pledged obedience to the realm

27. Maurice’s Military Reforms Cont • Introduced the baggage trains, medical, signal and chaplain corps • Cut the size of the standing army • Deployed it as central reserve and units for the frontier fortresses • Divided empire into military provinces or themes

28. Navy • By 8th century empire had 5 fleets • Small, fast galley ships • Each vessel had two rows of oarsmen who were trained to fight • Each vessel had a group of Marines • Had bow tubes for dispensing “Greek Fire”

29. Fall of Empire • East had constant attacks from Persians and to the North were the Slavs • Military is eventually weakened • Islamic Attacks come in the 7th and 8th centuries which further weaken military • Basil I (867-868) and Basil II (985-1025) neglect military

30. Fall of Empire Cont. • 1068 Romanus Diogenes, former General, takes control and drive Turks back in the Battle of Manzikert • Was betrayed by one of his officers and Turks envelope and destroy Byzantine force • 1453 Mohammed II takes Constantinople to end the 1100 years of the Byzantine Empire

31. Byzantine Empire through its years

32. Summary Slide • Military Philosophy, Tactics, and Organization • Constant analysis of enemies, coordinated actions of armies and weapons systems, well trained Cataphract • Innovations: The Stirrup • Logistics, Signal, and Medical Corps • Belisarius Keys to Success • Narses form for Battle, very successful • Navy Innovations with Marines onboard • Fall of the Empire

33. Questions?