Siege of Dara (573)
Sasanian victory over the Byzantines
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The siege of Dara was raised by the Sasanian king Khosrow I in 573 during the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591. The fortified city fell after 4 months.[3]
| Siege of Dara (573) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591 | |||||||
Ruins of the fortifications of Dara | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Sasanian Empire | Byzantine Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Khosrow I Izadgushasp Fariburz Bahram Chobin |
Sergius † Ioannes (POW)[1] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
23,000 cavalry 40,000 infantry[2] | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Sasanians cut through a hill to divert the city's water supply,[4] and used captured Roman ballistae from the abandoned Roman Siege of Nisibis (573).[5]
The news of the fall of Dara, long a major Byzantine stronghold in Upper Mesopotamia, contributed to Emperor Justin's mental health decline.[3] Bahram Chobin was commander of the cavalry force in the siege, and was promoted to the Spahbed of the North after this victory.[6]
