Battle of Dara
Abstract
Each session of the Engineer Captain s Career Course (ECCC) is required to write an article analyzing a historical battle, and the best overall professional article receives the Thomas Jefferson Writing Excellence Award. This article was judged the best article of ECCC 1-09. In the early 6th century A.D., the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire s eastern boundary was continuously tested by the Persian Empire s aggressive expansion and growing influence. Dara was a fortified city and strategically important Byzantine military post that overlooked a major route between Persia and Mesopotamia. At the Battle of Dara in June 530 A.D., 25,000 Byzantine soldiers led by Flavius Belisarius routed a Persian expeditionary force of 50,000. The Byzantine victory substantially weakened Persia s westernmost army, halting Persian efforts to mount an overwhelming offense across the eastern boundary of the Byzantine Empire and leaving Persia s western border region vulnerable to seizure. Persia was therefore forced to negotiate terms for an enduring peace, and the Byzantine Empire s integrity was preserved.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA560237
Entities
People
- Andrew J. Dornstadter
Organizations
- United States Army Engineer School