Byzantine Military Flashcards
(47 cards)
What were the tagmata in the Byzantine military, and when were they created?
Elite, centrally-based regiments created by Emperor Constantine V in the 8th century to serve as a professional core loyal to the emperor.
What was the function of the Scholae regiment?
The most prestigious tagma, serving as the emperor’s personal guard.
What were the thematic armies and who commanded them?
Provincial military units organized by themes (districts), each led by a strategos, responsible for local defense and mobilization in campaigns.
Define bucellarii and their role in Byzantine warfare.
Privately funded cavalry forces loyal to individual generals or nobles; often composed of foreign mercenaries like Huns and Goths.
Who were the limitanei and how did their role evolve?
Border garrison troops who initially served as professional soldiers but eventually became part-time militia during the 6th century.
What were Byzantine cataphracts and what made them effective?
Heavily armoured cavalry used for shock assaults, equipped with bows and lances; formed the elite strike force of the army.
Who were the skutatoi?
Heavy infantry armed with large shields and spears, used as disciplined core units in battles.
Define psiloi and their tactical purpose.
Light infantry including archers, slingers, and javelin-throwers; used for skirmishing and flanking maneuvers.
What were the Karabisianoi and why were they formed?
The first Byzantine naval force, formed in response to early Muslim naval threats in the 7th century; protected Aegean and Anatolian coasts.
Describe a dromon and its key military feature.
Main Byzantine warship, fast and agile, often equipped with Greek fire for naval combat.
What was the Byzantine wedge formation used for?
Cavalry formation used for frontal assaults - first ranks used arrows to disrupt enemies, then charged with lances.
What is a numerus in the context of Byzantine warfare?
A unit of 300-400 soldiers, often cavalry, arranged in deep lines resembling a mounted phalanx.
What role did intelligence play in Byzantine strategy?
Spies and scouts were used extensively to gather information, assess enemy strength, and plan ambushes or retreats.
How did Byzantines use deception in warfare?
Through feigned retreats, ambushes, false reports, and disinformation - tactics especially favoured by generals like Belisarius.
What types of siege tactics did Byzantines use?
Use of towers, battering rams, tunneling, and blockade - combined with psychological tactics to force surrender.
How did the Byzantine navy assist in sieges?
By enforcing naval blockades and supplying Greek fire to destroy enemy fleets and coastal fortifications.
Who was Belisarius and under which emperor did he serve?
One of Byzantium’s greatest generals; served under Justinian I during the 6th century.
Name two major wars led by Belisarius and their outcomes.
Vandalic War (533-534): reconquered North Africa from the Vandals.
Gothic War (535-554): took Italy from the Ostrogoths, including Rome and Ravenna.
What was Belisarius’ contribution at the Battle of Melantias (559)?
He led a small force to defeat a large Hunnic incursion, demonstrating tactical brilliance late in his career.
What types of reforms did Nikephoros II Phokas implement?
Emphasized light cavalry, ambush tactics, and better training for frontier units; tried to revitalize local defenses.
How did the Byzantines use mercenaries in their army?
They recruited foreign troops (Huns, Varangians, Alans, Cumans) to fill manpower shortages or supplement elite forces.
What factors contributed to the military decline of Byzantium?
Internal civil wars, declining tax base, over-reliance on mercenaries, and increasingly aggressive enemies like the Seljuks and Ottomans.
What was the state of the Byzantine army at the fall of Constantinople (1453)?
Severely weakened; small in number, poorly funded, reliant on foreign aid and last-ditch defenses.
How did Constantine I use war to consolidate power and Christian identity?
Won the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312) under a Christian symbol; used military victory to unify empire and promote Christianity.
