Battle of Dara

Battle of Dara
Part of the Iberian War
DateJune 530 AD
Location
Dara (present-day Mardin Province, southern Turkey)
Result Byzantine victory
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire
Ghassanids
Heruli
Huns		 Sasanian Empire
Lakhmids
Cadiseni
Commanders and leaders
Belisarius
Hermogenes
Pharas
John of Lydia
Sunicas
Aigan
Simmas
Ascan
al-Harith ibn Jabalah		 Perozes
Pityaxes
Baresmanas †
Strength

25,000 men[1]

  • 10,000 infantry
  • 15,000 cavalry
 50,000 men[2]
(originally 40,000 men before reinforcements[1])
Casualties and losses
Fewer than 5,000 men 8,000+ men[3]

The Battle of Dara was fought between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sasanians in 530 AD. It was one of the battles of the Iberian War.

Procopius's account of this engagement is among the most detailed descriptions of a late Roman battle.[4]

  1. ^ a b J. Haldon, The Byzantine Wars, 29
  2. ^ J. Haldon, The Byzantine Wars, 31
  3. ^ J. Haldon, The Byzantine Wars, 31–32
  4. ^ Charles, Michael (1 January 2011). "The Sassanian immortals". Iranica Antiqua. 46: 289–313. doi:10.2143/IA.46.0.2084423.