Battle of Taginae

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Taginae
partof=the Gothic War


caption=
date=July 552
place=Taginae, modern Gualdo Tadino, Italy
casus=
territory=
result=Decisive Byzantine victory
combatant1=Byzantine Empire and allies:
Lombards
Heruli
combatant2=Ostrogothic Kingdom
commander1=Narses
commander2=TotilaKIA
strength1=c. 20-25,000 [Haldon (2001), p. 58]
strength2=c. 15-18,000
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=6,000At the Battle of Taginae (also known as the Battle of Busta Gallorum) in June/July 552, the forces of the Byzantine Empire under Narses broke the power of the Ostrogoths in Italy, and paved the way for the complete Byzantine conquest of the Italian Peninsula. Like the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and the Israeli assault on Hizayon in 1973, it exemplified the disastrous defeat of a cavalry charge by missile-armed infantry.

From as early as 549 the Emperor Justinian I had planned to dispatch a major army to Italy to conclude the protracted war with the Ostrogoths initiated in 535. During 550-51 a large expeditionary force totaling 20-25,000 men was gradually assembled at Salona on the Adriatic, comprising regular Byzantine units and a large contingent of foreign allies, notably Lombards, Heruls and Bulgars.J. Norwich, "Byzantium: The Early Centuries", 251] The imperial chamberlain (cubicularius) Narses was appointed to command in mid 551. The following spring Narses led this grand army around the coast of the Adriatic as far as Ancona, and then turned inland aiming to march down the Via Flaminia to Rome.

Battle

Near the village of Taginae (traditionally located somewhere to the north of modern Gualdo Tadino), Narses encountered the Ostrogothic army commanded by King Totila, who had been advancing to intercept him. Finding himself considerably outnumbered, Totila ostensibly entered into negotiations while planning a surprise attack, but Narses was not fooled by this stratagem.

Although he enjoyed superiority in numbers, Narses deployed his army in a strong defensive position. In the centre he massed the large body of Germanic allies dismounted in a dense phalanx, and placed Byzantine troops to either side. On each wing he stationed 4,000 foot-archers.

Totila initially attempted to outflank his opponent by seizing a small hill on the Byzantine left which dominated the only route to the rear of Narses' line, but a force of fifty Byzantine infantry deployed in a compact well-shielded formation managed to beat off successive attacks of the Ostrogothic cavalry.

Having failed to turn Narses' position, and expecting 2,000 reinforcements from Teias, Totila used various expedients to delay the battle, including disingenuous offers of negotiation and duels enacted between the battle-lines. In one such occasion, Totila sent a Byzantine deserter named Coccas out to challenge any Byzantine to single combat. Coccas was large and immensely strong. He had a reputation among the Goths as a ruthless and powerful fighter. An Armenian named Anzalas, one of Narses' bodyguards, answered the challenge. Coccas charged an Anzalas, but at the last moment, Anzalas swerved his horse and stabbed the Gothic champion in the side. It was not the most auspicious omen to Totila.

However, the Gothic King had another delaying tactic. Both armies watched as Totila, dressed in shining purple and gold armor, and riding a huge stallion, cantered out towards the no-man land between the two large armies. His horse danced and pranced in circles, reared, pirouetted, and ran backwards as Totila tossed his lance into the air and caught it. At last, he rode back to his own army and changed into his battle armor. Teias had arrived.

When his reinforcements arrived led by Teias, Totila broke formation and retired for lunch. Narses, wary of a possible ruse, permitted his troops to refresh themselves without leaving their positions. Totila, apparently hoping to take his enemy by surprise, launched a sudden large-scale mounted assault upon the Byzantine center. Ancient and modern authors have accused him of folly, but Totila probably sought to close with the enemy as fast as possible in order to avoid the effects of the formidable Byzantine archery. Narses was prepared for such move, however, and ordered the archers massed on his flanks to incline their front towards the centre so that his battle-line became crescent-shaped. Caught in the enfilading fire from both sides, the Ostrogothic cavalry sustained high casualties and their attack faltered. The course and duration of the subsequent battle are uncertain, but towards early evening Narses ordered a general advance, and the Ostrogoths broke and fled. Although accounts vary, it was probably during the subsequent rout that Totila was killed.

Narses proceeded to Rome which fell with limited resistance. The Ostrogoths regrouped under Totila's successor Teias, but suffered a final defeat at the Battle of Mons Lactarius (near Mount Vesuvius) and thereafter played no significant part in the history of Italy.

References

Sources

* H.N. Roisl, 'Totila und die Schlacht bei den Busta Gallorum, Ende Juni/Anfang Juli 552', Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik 30 (1981), 25-50.

* Roy Boss, 'Justinian's Wars: Belisarius, Narses and the Reconquest of the West (Stockport 1993).

*gr icon cite book |last=Haldon |first=John |title=The Byzantine Wars |publisher=Konstantinos Tourikis Eds. |location=Athens |year=2001 |pages= |isbn=960-87875-3-X

* Philip Rance, 'Narses and the Battle of Taginae (Busta Gallorum) 552: Procopius and sixth century warfare', Historia 54 (2005), 424–472.

*cite book |author=Weir, William |title=50 Battles That Changed the World: The Conflicts That Most Influenced the Course of History |publisher=Barnes and Noble Books |location=Savage, Md |year= |pages= |isbn=0-7607-6609-6 |oclc= |doi=

External links

* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/battles.htm# Locations of this battle and battle of Mons Lactarius]