Avar–Byzantine wars

The Avar–Byzantine wars were a long series of military conflicts. These wars took place between the Byzantine Empire and the Avar Khaganate. The Byzantine Empire was a powerful state in the east. The Avar Khaganate was a group of people who established their own territory. These conflicts began in 568. This was when the Avars arrived in the region of Pannonia. They claimed the lands of the Gepids and the Lombards as their own. This territorial claim led to the first major fight over the city of Sirmium.

The Avars had a specific way of conducting warfare. Their military tactics relied on speed and shock to surprise enemies. They also depended heavily on subject peoples for specialized tasks. These groups included the Slavs, the Huns, the Sabirs, and the Kutrigurs. These people provided the labor and skills needed for logistics and siege warfare. They were experts at building bridges and boats. They also used heavy equipment like rams, artillery, and tortoise formations to attack city walls.

Most of these wars were caused by Avar raids into the Balkan provinces. The Avars often attacked when the Byzantine Empire was distracted. The Byzantines were frequently fighting the Sassanid Empire in the east. Because of these eastern wars, Byzantine troops were often unavailable. This allowed the Avars and their Slavic subjects to raid without much resistance. For long periods, the Avars could pillage the Balkans before Byzantine armies could arrive. This pattern of raiding continued through the 580s and 590s.

In the late 500s, the conflict changed as the Byzantines fought back. The Avars captured the city of Sirmium around 582. After this victory, they demanded 100,000 gold solidi every year. When the Byzantines refused, the Avars began pillaging the northern and eastern Balkans. They captured cities like Augustae, Singidunum, and Viminacium. In 586, they took eight more cities through sieges. However, their success slowed when they moved further inland in 587. They destroyed many cities in Moesia, such as Marcianopolis and Cabyle.

Emperor Maurice changed the strategy of the Byzantine Empire. He signed a peace treaty with the Sassanids in 591. This allowed him to move veteran troops to the Balkans. The Byzantines moved from a reactive strategy to a pre-emptive one. General Priscus was sent to stop Slavic incursions across the Danube. Later, Maurice's brother Peter took command. Peter established a base at Marcianopolis to patrol the Danube. These efforts helped prevent the Avars from starting new pillaging campaigns.

By 599, the Byzantines achieved significant victories. Generals Priscus and Comentiolus led troops across the Danube. They fought the Battles of Viminacium in the Avar heartland. This was a major turning point. It was the first time the Avars suffered a massive defeat in their own territory. During these campaigns, several sons of the Avar Khagan, Bayan, were killed. The Byzantines also fought near the Tisza river. These victories temporarily pushed the Avars back and brought a period of peace to the Balkans.

However, the peace did not last forever. In 602, Emperor Maurice was overthrown by a man named Phocas. This change in leadership caused the Byzantines to cancel their plans to destroy the Khaganate. The Avars eventually turned their attention toward Italy. By 614, the Avars and Slavs began raiding again. They saw that the Byzantines were too busy to stop them. They captured and destroyed many cities, including Naissus and Serdica.