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Zabergan

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Zabergan Kutrigur-bulgars Byzantine war 558 - 559 map
Kutrigur-bulgars Zabergan Byzantine war dec. 558 -  aug. 559, Campaign operations of the 3 armies wings : The Constantinople  direction corps. The Galipoli and Asia Minor  direction corps, The Aegean direction corps. [1]

Zabergan also Zaber Khan [2] and Zavergan (Template:Lang-gr) was a 558-586 ruled khan of the Kutrigurs, a Bulgar [3][4][5] nomadic people of the Pontic–Caspian steppe, successor of Sinnion. His name is Iranian [6] and mentioned by Procopii Caesariensis as person that visited Constantinople in diplomatic mission and later Empress Theodora address to him letter to help to the Byzanine empire [7]. The history inscribed ruler Zabergan as the chieftain of the large invasion of the led by him forces to Constantinople, Galipoli and Thermopylae from winter of 558-559 to August 559 finalized by concluding a profitable for Kutrigurs treaty with Bizantine Empire between Zabergan and Emperor Justinian the Great after that Zabergan withdraw his armies.[8][9][10][11]

Zabergan invasion in the Bizantine Empire 558-559

Background

In 551 army of 12 000 kutrigurs led by Zabergan predecessor Sinnion invaded the Balkans, but after the fake news spread by Emperor Justinian I that kutrigurs land and settlements are under attack and huge amount of gold received from the Empire they withdraw back, however 2000 kutrigurs remain south of the Danube and by the Emperor settled in the area of Apros fortress not far of the Constantinople.[12] 

Aim and beginning of the Kutrigurs 558-559 offensive

In purport to force by devastation the Roman Empire to pay regular annuall tribute to led by Zabergan tribes Rruler of Kutrigurs move from the northern Black Sea steppes and concentrate of the banks of the lower Danube a large mass of forces and at the end of the 558 AD already encamped near.[13] In the winter of 558-559 а huge troops of hun-bulgars [3] and slavs[8] crosses the frozen Danube to Scythia Minor and invade the Empire dioceses of Thrace and Macedonia. In this first phase of the campaign the army successfully crushed the Danube limes, seize the huge area on the Balcans and captured as prisonres of war not only local citizens but even hi level Strategos Sergius and Strategos Edem. Following the pointed goal of the offensive to inflict maximum damages to Empire the Kutrigur army in the next second phase of the campaign was divided into three wings: left corps raided south to Thermopylae, other - attack the Thracian Chersonesus (Gallipoli peninsula) and the third directed to Constantinople.[14][13]

Operations of the detachment directed to Constantinople

At the end of the winter of 559  Kutrigurs Wing directed to Constantinople - personaly led by Zabergam 7000 cavalry [6][6][15], crosses the Anastasian wall and In the Anastasian Wall Batle totally defeated [8] the Bizantine army send against them by Emperor Justinian I the Great. After this victory Zabergan forces in the beginning of the spring of 559 take Constantinople  suburb settlements Drypia[16], Nymphs (Nymphas)[17] and Hitos (Chitus) [18] standing about 15 km to the gate of St. Roman and reach Sykai (Galata) [3][19] on Golden horn at the opposite coast of the Empire capital, encircle and approach immediately to the gates of Constantinople, Zabergan settle his camp at Melantias, seize all the area to the Walls of Constantinople and push survived roman population to escape panicky behind the walls of the capital.[8][9] At March 559 Detachment directed to Constantinople reach the main set strategic tasks to sack, demoralize and threaten the Empire hit it in its hеart. In this time the last collected forces of Byzantine army, led by the old Belisarius, the most glorified commander of the Empire, at the end have the courage to go outside of the walls, make a fortified camp at Hitos, take in ambush between Melantias and Hitos one of the avant-garde units of Kutrigurs and win the Battle of Melantias,[20] but pushing back attack of less then 1/3 of the forces of the kutrigurs directed to Constantinople, Belisarius  have no more power to pursue and defeat the invaders, in result the Zabergan forces in April march from Melantias  more closer to Constantinople and take Dekaton (Decatum) [11][21] - only 10 km from the Golden gate. Direct siege of Constantinople and taking the Empire capital is not in Kutrigurs intentions according to the aims of the invasion and number of the divided for it forces in Constantinople direction of operation.

Already reached tasks of the mission the Detachment directed to Constantinople withdraw circa 13th April (Easter 559) the main of its forces on more secure positions at Arkadioupol, Drousipara (Zupparum), Tzouroulon (Tzurulum)[21]. From here it hold on operate in all sized yet area to Constantinople walls [3] till August 559 when after coming back the two other detachments send to Gallipoli and to Thermopylae and successfully join all armies Zabergan achieved treaty with Emperor Justinian I by which: legitimate the Kutrigurs, Bizantine Empire pay heavi contribution estimate to min 70 000 and max 220 000 gold Nomismas [4][22][23], guarantee to Kutrigurs army, with all collected prey, free, in fact victorious, way back withdrawing any Bizantine forces and navy form the Zabergan route to his lands across Thrace, Moesia and Danube, even the bizantine emperor nephew and future Emperor Justin II transported them across the Danube.[8]

Operations of the detachment directed to Gallipoli and Asia minor

The second wing of the Zabergan army - Detachment directed to Gallipoli and Asia Minor have the task to isolate Constantinople from south as enchain in battles here the bizantine forces, to inflict additive casualties for the Empire and profit for Kutrigurs army as sack the peninsula and cross the Dardaneles channel take the customs treasure from Abydos on Asia minor coast [9].[22] The detachment march to the Thracian Chersonesus seize all the lands from Anastasian wall to Gulf of Saros and attack the strong Defensive wall of Gallipoli peninsula build from the Aegean to the Propontida coast near Agora (today Bolair). Frontal assaults on the wall heavy defended by motivated byzantine forces isn't bring fast success for Kutrigurs besiegers and they prepare on Saros coast own fleet of 150 marine rafts and begin the see landing operation. Some byzantine sources in visible propaganda style as Agathias Historiarum libri claimed that the defenders fleet of 20 battleships overcomes the attack, even byzantine land forces try to break the siege, but defeated by the large besiegers troop withdraw back behind the wall [9], but the other as Procopius Caesariensis [10] testified that Kutrigus forces not only take and enslaved the all Thracian Chersonesus  peninsula, but some of the their units successfully sailed from Sestos to the Asia Minor coast, attack Abydos, sake settlements here and with all the prey  undamaged was returned back to the rest of the Gallipoli invaders corps and with them - to the main forces.[10] Anyway the Detachment directed to Gallipoli successfully reached the tasks of his mission to enchain the byzantine forces here, to inflict additive casualties for the Empire and troops in combat power return and join to the Zabergan armies in the summer of 559.[9]

Operations of the detachment directed to Thermopylae

The other one more wing of the Zabergan army in the large offensive against the Empire - Detachment directed to Thermopylae and Greece have the similar task as all - to prevent any idea to help to Costantinople with south-west forces as break the land communications, paralyze as threaten or enchain in clashes the byzantine troops in central sector of the military road of Via Egnatia and in Greece, maneuvering without involving in battle do the same with second in the Empire powerful fortress and garrison of Thessaloniki, inflict as more as possible damages for the Empire as sack and capture all in the its way till to Greece.[9] Detachment march to pointed direction and seize the lands from the Thracian Chersonesus to Thermopylae pass, take the strategic fortresses of Anastasioupolis [8] on Porto Lagos south of today Xanthi and Poteidaia [10] on Chalkidiki peninsula closer south of Thesaloniki, invade penetrating deep in the enemy territory reach and raided the Thermopylae wall. Here again some byzantine sources in visible propaganda style as Agathias Historiarum libri claimed that the troop defending the Thermopylae fortified wall stave off the attack [9], but the others as Procopius Caesariensis [10] with sorrow testified that after repulse of the first frontal attack on the wall raiders troop scouting all area, find the trail high thru the rocks, deadly defeat defenders forces and "slaughtered all of the greeks except thеsе in Pelopones, after that withdraw beck." [10] Under invaders fallen in this years 32 fortresses from Illyricum (Macedonia, Epirus and Hellas) to Constantinople [10] Anyway the West Zabergan troops detachment as well reached the his tasks to enchain the byzantine forces here, to break the land communications of the Empire, to inflict more casualties and damages for it and after that successfully return and join to the main forces of the army.[10][9][22]

The results of the campaign

Emperor Justinian I the Great who win colossal victories concurred and return to the Empire provinces: Hispahia, Italia, Africa, Dalmatia and Armenia was brought by invaded Balkans Kutrigurs armies into situation to redeems the peace as concluding on the own burned territory grantfull treaty with them. Zabergan for about 8 mounts long in 559 large scale campaign invade deep in the Empire, spread his armies from the gates of the Constantinople and Galata on the Bosphorus coast, to Gallipoli on Sea of Marmara and Thermopylae in Greece, reached the his aims as forced Roman-byzantine Empire to conclude treaty with Kutrigurs by which legitimate them, pay them a huge contribution estimate to min 318,5 kg and max 990 kg gold [4][22][23], and guarantee the Kutrigurs army, with the all taken prey, victorious, even in the eyes of byzantians [9], way back withdrawing any Byzantine forces and navy form the way. The Kutrigurs prove that they no hesitation and have capability to attack the strong fortifications, to build and use own kind of navy, to move and concentrate serious forces, transit and operate on a big distances in a short period of time, to solve and reach pointed tactical and strategic tasks, it shows to the world that the Kutrigurs were mounted warriors and dangerous army.[13] At the same time once again after 551 Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565) strategic diplomacy managed to collide[9] ethnically the same Utigurs and Kutrigurs [4] as persuade Utigurs chieftain Sandilch to attack Zabergan, which resulted in a fratricidal war of both.[14] Nevertheless, according to the chronicle of Michael the Syrian the remnant of those Bulgars[5] were granted Dacia in the time of Maurice (r. 582-602).[24] After many rides in 680 AD bulgars finally concurred the lands south of the Danube river [5] and establish here existing till today the state Bulgaria. It is unknown if the Kutrigurs 558-586 ruler is related to the Zabergan (Kardarigan), who in 586 defended the fortress Chlomaron on the Persian side against the Bizanto-romans.[6]

Honours

In honor of the Kutrigurs ruler Zabergan as one of the Bulgarian toponyms in Antarctica is named Zabergan Peak in Antarctica.

References

  1. ^ According to: Victor Tonnennensis - Chronica, Theophanis Confessoris - Chronographia, Agathias Scholasticus - Historiarum libri, Procopius Caesariensis - Libri de bellis, Ioannis Malalae - Chronographia.
  2. ^ James Cochran Stevenson Runciman, The History of the First Bulgarian Empire, 1930  - Стивън Рънсиман, История на Първото българско царство, Книга I - Чедата на хуните
  3. ^ a b c d Victor Tonnennensis episcopi. Chronica, c. 560
  4. ^ a b c d Menandri Excerpta de legationibus, ГИБИ II , 220
  5. ^ a b c Theophanis Confessoris. Chronographia, ГИБИ III p. 261-264
  6. ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen 1973.
  7. ^ Procopius Caesariensis, Historia Arcana  c. 21
  8. ^ a b c d e f Theophanis Confessoris. Chronographia, ГИБИ III p. 239-241
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Agathiae. Historiarum libri V , ГИБИ II, 185-202
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Procopius Caesariensis Libri de bellis VIII ГИБИ II 110-112
  11. ^ a b Ioannis Malalae. Chronographia ГИБИ II 218
  12. ^ James Cochran Stevenson Runciman, The History of the First Bulgarian Empire, 1930
  13. ^ a b c Curta 2015, p. 77.
  14. ^ a b Golden 2011, p. 140 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFGolden2011 (help); Golden 1992, p. 100
  15. ^ Golden, Peter B (2011). "Studies on the Peoples and Cultures of the Eurasian Steppes". Editura Academiei Române; Editura Istros a Muzeului Brăilei: 107.
  16. ^ Drypia - today Ataköy in Bakırköy, Ancient Drypia pointed south-west of the city on the sea-shore along the Via Egnatia 9 miles out of the Town (Janin 1969: 252) between 7 miles Hepdomon (Bakırköy) and 10 miles Dekaton (Florya to former San Stefano today Yeşilköy).
  17. ^ Nifos - today neighborhood Kocasinan of Istanbul 's Bahçelievler district
  18. ^ Htos (Свод древнейших письменных известий о славянах. Том I. Стр. 275) previous Hitos (Chitus, Hittos, Chettus, Chiton) - later Aipah today Güneşli Mahallesi, Bağcılar 
  19. ^ Свод древнейших письменных известий о славянах т. I, c. 268-275 
  20. ^ James C. Bradford, International Encyclopedia of Military History
  21. ^ a b Theophanis Confessoris. Chronographia, ГИБИ III p. 261
  22. ^ a b c d Свод древнейших письменных известий о славянах, 273
  23. ^ a b Subsidia of this kind usually is about 80 000 - 100 000 gold Nomisma and no less 60 000, plus for captured 2 strategas ransom is about 10 000 per each, if Zabergan finish one of them after Anastasian Wall Battle another one survived together with may be 120 000 of captured other citizens (their ransom is no less then 1 nomisma per capito), that go to amount of min 70 000 and max 220 000 nomismas and that paying provoke serious civil reaction in Constantinople testified by Agathiae.in Historiarum libri V  p. 201-202i
  24. ^ "The Three Scythian Brothers: an Extract from the Chronicle of Michael the Great | Mark Dickens". Academia.edu. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2015-02-27.

Sources

Preceded by Leader of the Kutrigurs
fl. 558–586 		Succeeded by
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