Siege of Petra (549)

Siege of Petra
Part of the Lazic War
DateSeptember 548 – January 549
Location
Petra, Lazica
41°46′06″N 41°45′12″E / 41.76833°N 41.75333°E / 41.76833; 41.75333
Result Sasanian victory[1]
Belligerents
Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Lazica		 Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Dagisthaeus
John Gouzes (WIA)
Gubazes II of Lazica		 Garrison:
Mihran
Reinforcements:
Mihr-Mihroe
Strength

8,000+

  • 7,000 regular Byzantines[2]
  • 1,000 Tzani[3]
  • Unknown number of Lazi
 Garrison:
1,500[1]
Reinforcements:
~40,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Garrison:
1,000 killed[1]
350 wounded[1]
Reinforcements:
1,000+ killed[4]

The siege of Petra took place in 549 when the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, under Emperor Justinian I, besieged the strategic fortress of Petra in Lazica, held by the Sasanians. Petra's garrison took heavy casualties, but it stood firm until the arrival of a strong army under Mihr-Mihroe relieved the siege.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e Petersen 2013, p. 271.
  2. ^ Greatrex & Lieu 2002, p. 117.
  3. ^ Procopius, History of the Wars, Book II: XXIX
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference procopius was invoked but never defined (see the help page).