The Battle of Dara was fought in 530 AD between the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire during the Iberian War. The battle was one of Belisarius' first major victories, earning him the favor of Emperor Justinian I.
Background[]
In 527 AD, the Byzantine Empire declared war on the Persian emperor Kavadh I for allegedly attempting to enforce Zoroastrianism in Iberia, a Christian kingdom in the Caucasus. Emperor Justin I of Byzantium sent Sittas and Belisarius to invade Persia, but they were initially defeated; Justin's son and successor Justinian failed to negotiate a peace with the Persians, and Kavadh sent 40,000 men to attack Dara in southern Anatolia in 529. In 530, Belisarius led 25,000 troops to defend the region, and the two sides met in battle.
Battle[]
Belisarius had his outnumbered army dig ditches to block the Persian cavalry, leaving gaps to allow for a counterattack. On the flanks were the Byzantine cavalry, supported by 300 Hunnic cavalry on the left flank and many more on the right; Heruli cavalry prepared an ambush on the Persians on the Byzantine left flank. On the first day of battle, Byzantine champions slew several Persian champions; on the second day, 10,000 Persian reinforcement troops arrived from Nisibis. The Persians attacked the Byzantine left wing, making good progress until the Hunnic and Herulian cavalry played their parts, with the Heruli ambush succeeding. The Persians then attacked the Byzantine right wing, again making good progress, but Belisarius himself led reserve cavalry in a counterattack which routed the Persians. Belisarius pursued the enemy for a few miles, but let the majority of Persian survivors escape.