[12] This gave Robert a motive to invade the empire claiming his daughter had been mistreated; however, his intervention was delayed by a revolt in Italy.[13]. [1] The archers had been commanded to move in front of the Varangians and fire a volley before retreating behind them. As it was winter Bibulus was unprepared and Caesar was able to sail through the blockade easily and form a beachhead at Epirus with the first half of his army. The army numbered 30,000 men, backed up by 1,300 Norman knights. [8] As they were paid with lands, soon they were powerful enough to challenge Papal authority; in 1054, they defeated the Pope at the Battle of Civitate, forcing him to acknowledge their authority. Varangian mercenaries joined in the pursuit of the fleeing Normans, but became separated from the main force and were massacred. After failing to subdue his enemies at Dyrrhachium (now Dürres, Albania), Caesar clashed with Pompey somewhere near Pharsalus (now Fársala, Greece). Pompey defeated Caesar in 48 BC at the Battle of Dyrrhachium, but was himself defeated much more decisively at the Battle of Pharsalus. The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) on 10 July 48 BC was a battle during Caesar's Civil War that took place near the city of Dyrrachium (in what is now Albania). Battle of Dyrrhachium Emperor Alexius arrived in the vicinity of the besieged city in mid-October. It consisted of Thracian and Macedonian tagmata, which numbered about 5,000 men; the elite excubitors and vestiaritai units, which numbered around 1,000 men; a force of Manichaeans which comprised 2,800 men, Thessalian cavalry, Balkan conscripts, Armenian infantry and other light troops. DYRRHACHIUM: LESNIKIA R (48) – Second Civil W ar. The battle ended in a Norman victory, with Alexios I Komnenos routing the Norman left wing, which broke and fled. The Varangians soon became separated from the main force and exhausted so they were in no position to resist an assault. The battle was fought outside the city of Dyrrhachium (also known as Durazzo ), the Byzantine capital of Illyria, and ended in a Norman victory. The Battle of Dyrrachium (or Dyrrhachium) on 10 July 48 BC was a battle during Caesar's Civil War that took place near the city of Dyrrachium (in what is now Albania). ", The Norman fleet of 150 ships including 60 horse transports set off towards the Byzantine Empire at the end of May 1081. Battle of Pharsalus. He failed to take adequate account of the effectiveness of the Norman heavy cavalry charge, which punched through his lines with little resistance. Alexius also withdrew the tagmas from Heraclea Pontica and the remaining Byzantine holdings in Asia Minor and by doing so, he effectively left them to be overrun by the Turks. These victories returned the Empire to its previous status quo and marked the beginning of the Komnenian restoration. When Michael was deposed, Robert took this as an excuse to invade the Byzantine Empire in 1081. [7], At Dyrrachium Caesar only just escaped the ambush Pompey had set for him. Guiscard hoped the feint would draw up the Varangians; however, this plan failed when the cavalry was forced back by the archers. The Battle of Dyrrhachium in February 1018 was a part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars. Two Gallic noblemen were caught stealing the pay from auxiliary cavalry under their command, but managed to escape to Pompey. Although the attack was initially successful, the Caesarian troops were outnumbered 2:1 and Pompey's troops fought hard. He ordered a retreat which soon became a panicked and disordered rout. mil. Raising an army of 15,000 Normans and mercenary auxiliaries, Robert and his son Bohemond launched a fleet toward the Byzantine coast. Caesar swiftly reinforced the breach with 4,000 men. (Dyrrachium, Civil Wars of Caesar and Pompey, 48 B.C.) Battle of Dyrrhachium. [24], In the meantime, the Byzantine right and centre had been engaging in skirmishes with the Normans opposite them. The battle began with the Byzantine right wing routing the Norman left wing, which broke and fled. It was fought between Julius Caesar and an army led by Gnaeus Pompey who had the backing of the majority of the Roman Senate. His ships were destroyed in a brief naval battle, while at the same time, the garrison of Dyrrhachium, led by George Palaeologus, defeated the Normans outside the city and destroyed their siege tower. 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