PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Battle of Kalavrye
rdfs:comment
  • The two armies clashed at Kalavrye on the Halmyros river. Alexios Komnenos, whose army was considerably smaller and far less experienced, tried to ambush Bryennios's army. The ambush failed, and the wings of his own army were driven back by the rebels. Alexios himself barely managed to break through with his personal retinue, but succeeded in regrouping his scattered men. At the same time, Bryennios's army fell into disorder after having seemingly won the battle, and due to the attack on its camp by its own Pecheneg allies. Reinforced by Turkish mercenaries, Alexios lured the troops of Bryennios into another ambush through a feigned retreat. The rebel army broke, and Bryennios himself was captured.
owl:sameAs
Strength
  • 5500
  • 8000
  • 12000
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Date
  • 1078
Commander
Caption
  • Miniature of Alexios Komnenos, the victor of Kalavrye, as emperor
Casualties
  • Heavy
Result
  • Victory of Botaneiates' forces
combatant
  • Imperial forces of Nikephoros III Botaneiates
  • Rebel forces of Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder
Place
  • Kalavrye, Thrace
Conflict
  • Battle of Kalavrye
abstract
  • The two armies clashed at Kalavrye on the Halmyros river. Alexios Komnenos, whose army was considerably smaller and far less experienced, tried to ambush Bryennios's army. The ambush failed, and the wings of his own army were driven back by the rebels. Alexios himself barely managed to break through with his personal retinue, but succeeded in regrouping his scattered men. At the same time, Bryennios's army fell into disorder after having seemingly won the battle, and due to the attack on its camp by its own Pecheneg allies. Reinforced by Turkish mercenaries, Alexios lured the troops of Bryennios into another ambush through a feigned retreat. The rebel army broke, and Bryennios himself was captured. The battle is known through two detailed accounts, Anna Komnene's Alexiad, and her husband Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger's Material for History, on which Anna's own account relies to a large degree. It is one of the few Byzantine battles described in detail, and hence a valuable source for studying the tactics of the Byzantine army of the late 11th century.