The typical soldier
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The byzantine unit known as the varangian gaurd was an extremely elite unit of soldier. They formed a group of viking mercenaries who defended the Byzantine throne. The typical soldier of the Byzantine empire was armed with a sword, shield, lance or a healmet bow. They also had the cringe for close range battle contact, the sling which was used for hitting metals and even rocks, and they had strong battle armour. The Byzantine military was the most powerful army among Eurasia for much of the middle ages.
The battle of Manzikert
The battle of Manzikert was fought between the Byzantines and the Seljuk Turks. The Byzantine emperor Romanus assembled a large army of men to reestablish the security of the Byzantines eastern frontier. Romanus led his men into Turkish-held Armenia. He entered along the southern branch of the upper Euphrates river. Romanus divided his army near the town of Manzikert. He sent some soldiers ahead to secure the fortress of Akhlat on near by lake Van. Romanus took others with him to Manzikert where he confronted the Emperors army. Romanus had to abandon his position at Manzikert to reunite his forces with the group in Akhlat. He was then trapped in a valley on an Akhlat road. Romanus neglected sending troops out to scout enemy positions and the Turks attacked them. The Byzantine army may have won the battle if their position hadn't been weakened by treachery. The traders in romanus's army were Turks, and they went to the enemy the night before the battle to fight on their side. At the end of the battle Romanus was taken prisoner.
The battle of Sarus
The battle of Sarus was fought between the Byzantine army led by emperor Heraclius and the Persian general Shahrbaraz. The Byzantine army caught up with the enemy forces as they were headed towards the Byzantine capital. The battle ended with a Byzantine victory but Shahrbaraz withdrew a good amount of forces and they were able to travel through Asia minor to advance towards Constantinople.
The military's role in society
The miliary of the byzantine empire had a role to defend the nation and to protect the rights of its citizens. The military had a lot of political power as well which is abnormal considering most Empires held soldiers at a lower level class then the government.
The battle of Manzikert
The battle of Manzikert was fought between the Byzantines and the Seljuk Turks. The Byzantine emperor Romanus assembled a large army of men to reestablish the security of the Byzantines eastern frontier. Romanus led his men into Turkish-held Armenia. He entered along the southern branch of the upper Euphrates river. Romanus divided his army near the town of Manzikert. He sent some soldiers ahead to secure the fortress of Akhlat on near by lake Van. Romanus took others with him to Manzikert where he confronted the Emperors army. Romanus had to abandon his position at Manzikert to reunite his forces with the group in Akhlat. He was then trapped in a valley on an Akhlat road. Romanus neglected sending troops out to scout enemy positions and the Turks attacked them. The Byzantine army may have won the battle if their position hadn't been weakened by treachery. The traders in romanus's army were Turks, and they went to the enemy the night before the battle to fight on their side. At the end of the battle Romanus was taken prisoner.
The battle of Sarus
The battle of Sarus was fought between the Byzantine army led by emperor Heraclius and the Persian general Shahrbaraz. The Byzantine army caught up with the enemy forces as they were headed towards the Byzantine capital. The battle ended with a Byzantine victory but Shahrbaraz withdrew a good amount of forces and they were able to travel through Asia minor to advance towards Constantinople.
The military's role in society
The miliary of the byzantine empire had a role to defend the nation and to protect the rights of its citizens. The military had a lot of political power as well which is abnormal considering most Empires held soldiers at a lower level class then the government.