Solomon (magister militum)

Solomon
Born480s/490s
Idriphthon, near Dara
(modern-day Oğuz, Mardin, Turkey)
Died544
Cillium
(modern-day Kasserine, Tunisia)
AllegianceByzantine Empire
Rankmagister militum
Battles / warsVandalic War, Moorish Wars,Battle of Cillium

Solomon (Greek: Σολομών) was an East Roman (Byzantine) general from northern Mesopotamia, who distinguished himself as a commander in the Vandalic War and the reconquest of North Africa in 533–534. He spent most of the next decade in Africa as its governor general, combining the military post of magister militum with the civil position of praetorian prefect. Solomon successfully confronted the large-scale rebellion of the native Berbers (Mauri), but was forced to flee following an army mutiny in spring of 536. His second tenure in Africa began in 539 and it was marked by victories over the Berbers, which led to the consolidation of the Byzantine position. A few years of prosperity followed, but were cut short by the rekindled Berber revolt and Solomon's defeat and death at the Battle of Cillium in 544.