Siege of Onoguris

Siege of Onoguris
Part of the Lazic War
Date554 or 555 AD
Location42°24′30″N 42°26′30″E / 42.40833°N 42.44167°E / 42.40833; 42.44167
Result
  • Sasanian victory
  • The Byzantine base in Archaeopolis is destroyed
Belligerents
Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Unnamed garrison commander
Nachoragan
Strength
50,000 3,000 cavalry
Unknown number of garrison force
Casualties and losses
Heavy Unknown
Siege of Onoguris is located in Georgia
Siege of Onoguris
Location within Georgia

The siege of Onoguris occurred in 554 or 555 AD during the Lazic War between the Byzantine Empire and the Sasanian Empire.

The Byzantine generals led by Martin needed to score a quick victory on the battlefield to redress their assassination of the Byzantine ally King Gubazes II of Lazica. They launched a full-scale assault on the new Sasanian fort at Onoguris, which was located near the main Byzantine stronghold of Archaeopolis. The arrival of a small relief force under the new Sasanian commander Nachoragan turned the tide of the battle and resulted in an easy victory for the Sasanians instead. The Byzantines subsequently abandoned their base at Archaeopolis also, which was then destroyed by the Sasanians who now gained momentum.

  1. ^ Bury, John Bagnell (1889). A History of the Later Roman Empire: From Arcadius to Irene (395 A.D. to 800 A.D.). Vol. Book IV. Macmillan and Company. p. 456.