battle fought northern byzantine forces led engagement long inconclusive byzantine war ended major byzantine victory improved byzantine position end decisive war dragged ended negotiated settlement persian days battle newly assigned persian moved intercept anticipated persian invasion chose deploy army controlling routes plain especially access main local source river confident victory advanced byzantines warned deployed battle order reached deployed attacked gaining upper hand centre byzantine right wing broke persian left flank successful byzantine wing thrown disarray men headed persian camp able restore order byzantine centre forced form shield wall withstand persian pressure byzantine left flank managed turn right threat double persian army collapsed fled dying desert water poisoning survived army held byzantine attacks days byzantines withdrew background byzantine ruler reigned refused renew annual payments peace agreement concluded uncle persian marked culmination progressive deterioration byzantine persian relations previous years manifested diplomatic military periphery byzantines initiated contacts joint effort persia intervened allies byzantium furthermore regarded annual tribute romans outbreak major revolt pretext refusing continue payments refusal declaration war fourth fought great powers late antiquity 6th century initial persian successes capture conflict proved inconclusive drawn affair byzantine victories followed persian successes intermittent negotiations temporary served general war ascended byzantine throne constantinople time gained upper hand capture byzantines prevailed initial moves following failure round peace negotiations little known appointed brother law commander chief raided region major persian fortress raided persian commander black hawk title proper responded unsuccessful siege main base spring rejected new persian proposals involving conclusion peace exchange renewed payments gold contemporary historian reports army eager confront battle byzantine commander marched south base crossed river modern south east turkey syria eastern bank advanced kilometres east plain pitched camp position south fortresses allowed army control passage river forced persian army advance plain away supply routes meeting byzantine force persian eager fight confident victory arranged escorted carrying water troops case byzantines refused engage continued block access allegedly prepared iron bars chains prisoners movements detected byzantines arab captured men allowing prepare forces early warning particular importance intended attack sunday day rest battle armies appear composed exclusively cavalry comprising mix horse possibly units included scouts reported approach positioned men elevated ground facing direction persian army advanced left flank protected foothills byzantines appear arranged single battle line divisions left division commanded included contingent horse centre commanded general elder later africa father emperor right wing commanded arrangement adopted soon came view byzantine army persian right division centre left wing nephew unlike persian general small force distance main battle line directing battle short halt leave baggage train form battle line persian army quickly advanced byzantines shooting arrows approached byzantines responded kind forth meet oncoming enemy byzantine right quickly victorious heavy cavalry breaking persian flank pushing opponents left main line point disaster threatened broke formation headed enemy camp intending saw happened reacted quickly gave distinctive helmet sent rally cavalry pain punishment army commander ruse worked men recognized helmet returned order time stop centre pushing numerically inferior byzantines counter ordered men central division form shield wall projecting formation clear happened apparently byzantine shot horses breaking momentum time byzantine left managed launch successful counter thrust drove opposing persian right disarray soon persian right broke fled pursued byzantines wings having persian centre subjected attack reformed byzantine right drove area occupied persian right outnumbered attacked sides soon began break flee defeated army suffered greatly byzantine pursuit lack water battle ordered water supplies poured ground trying men fight harder break byzantine army reach addition surviving refused entry according persian custom forbade entrance narrates died water poisoning drank water wells ordeal managed find refuge nearby small detachment byzantine attacks finally days byzantines aware enemy commander abandoned effort escaped men suffered casualties process thousand according byzantine patrols aftermath following battle rewarded soldiers distinguished divided defeated proceeded invade attempt capture fortress thwarted arrived reinforcements byzantine army retreated fortress fighting rear guard actions victory allowed byzantines regain upper hand region aftermath began establish control region war continued years decision revolt caused rightful persian find refuge byzantine territory joint expedition restored throne peace treaty concluded left armenia byzantine hands
Battle of Solachon