Siege of Martyropolis (531)
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| Siege of Martyropolis (531) | |||||||
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| Part of the Iberian War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Sasanian Empire Huns |
Byzantine Empire Ghassanids | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Chanaranges Bawi Mihr-Mihroe |
Garrison force: Strategos Sittas Hermogenes Al-Harith ibn Jabalah | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Large army | |||||||
  Location within Turkey | |||||||
A siege of Martyropolis occurred in the Autumn of 531 during the Iberian War between the Sasanian Empire under Kavadh I and the Byzantine Empire under Justinian I.
A Roman raid from Martyropolis triggered the Sasanians to launch a siege on the newly fortified frontier city. Although the Sasanians had the upper hand, a series of political developments coupled with logistical issues led them to withdraw. It was the last conflict of the Iberian War.
Earlier, the Sasanian king Kavadh I had ordered a campaign which resulted in a battle at Callinicum. Although the Persians were victorious, the victory was narrow, and no fortress was captured, thus making the campaign inconclusive. Both Belisarius and Azarethes, the Byzantine and Sasanian generals at Callinicum, respectively, were dismissed due to the high casualties of this battle. Emperor Justinian I then appointed Sittas as strategos in charge of the east.
At this time, Justinian's policy was to bolster the Roman position and at the same time try to make a truce with the Persians.
In Mesopotamia, Bessas had recently been appointed as dux Mesopotamiae with the frontier city of Martyropolis as his base, which was recently fortified by emperor Justinian I. From there, he performed a successful raid into the Sasanian border land of Arzanene, killing hundreds.