Siege of Sozopolis
| Siege of Sozopolis | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Byzantine–Seljuq wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Byzantine Empire | Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| John II Komnenos | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Garrison killed, captured or routed | ||||||
The Siege of Sozopolis saw the Byzantine conquest of the Seljuq Turk-held town of Sozopolis in 1120, improving Byzantine communications with the city of Attaleia.
Background
After re-conquering the city of Laodicea from a Seljuq Turkish garrison of 700 men in 1119, the Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos continued his campaigns against the Turks in 1120 after a brief stay in Constantinople.[1] The 1120 campaign target was the town of Sozopolis in Pisidia, which controlled the lines of communication to Attaleia.[2]
Siege
Sozopolis was protected by an armed garrison and steep hills.[1][2] A large-scale siege attack was thus impossible.[2] The town could only be attacked by small forces.[2] John was initially at a loss how to proceed but later came up with a plan.[1][2] He ordered a force of missile-armed armed cavalry under Paktiarios and Dekanos to attack the town gates and shoot at the Turkish soldiers manning the walls.[1][2] The Turks took the bait and poured out of the gate.[1] The Byzantine force then executed a planned retreat, drawing the Turks far out beyond the town.[1][2] The rest of the Byzantine army had lain hidden in the thick undergrowth and assaulted the undefended town after the Turks had passed them.[1] The fleeing Byzantines turned about and faced the pursuing Turks.[1][2] The Turks were trapped between the Byzantine cavalry to their front and the army to their back and were largely killed or captured, with a handful making it out of the encirclement.[1]
Aftermath
Next, the fortress of Hierakokoryphitis capitulated to John without a fight, along with many other towns and fortifications near Attaleia, after which John returned to Constantinople.[3]
Analysis
The combat at Sozopolis demonstrated the discipline of the Byzantine troops, who could feign flight without panicking.[2] The Byzantine cavalry could fight effectively with both missile and close-combat weapons.[2] John showed himself a competent general, carrying out a complex tactical maneuver at the very beginning of his reign.[4]
Citations
References
Primary
- Magoulias, Harry J., ed. (1984). O City of Byzantium: Annals of Niketas Choniatēs. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1764-8.
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Secondary
- Birkenmeier, John W. (2002). The Development of the Komnenian Army: 1081-1180. Boston, Massachusetts: Brill. ISBN 90-04-11710-5.
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