Battle of Dara
Dara (modern Oğuz), Mardin Province, Turkey
What happened
The Byzantine general Belisarius fought a much larger Sasanian Persian army under Perozes. Dara was a Byzantine frontier fortress facing the Persian Empire. Outnumbered about two to one, Belisarius did not hide behind the walls but dug ditches in front of the city to slow the Persian horsemen, leaving gaps for his own counter-attacks. When the Persians attacked, hidden Byzantine and Hunnic cavalry struck them from the sides, and the Persian army broke.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It showed that careful planning and well-timed counter-attacks could beat a bigger army. It was the first major victory of Belisarius, often ranked among history's greatest commanders.
What came next
The Persians invaded again in 531 and won at Callinicum. In 532 the two empires signed the 'Eternal Peace'.
Did you know?
Before the battle, the Persian commander sent Belisarius a message telling him to have a bath ready for him in Dara; Belisarius ignored it.
Timeline
- 505Emperor Anastasius I founds the fortress of Dara.
- June 530Belisarius wins at Dara.
- 531The Persians win at Callinicum.
- 532The 'Eternal Peace' is signed.