Damianos Dalassenos, Governor of Antioch

Damianos Dalassenos (c 940-d. July 19 998)

Biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damian_Dalassenos

Damian Dalassenos (Greek: Δαμιανός Δαλασσηνός; ca. 940 – 19 July 998) Was a Byzantine aristocrat and first attested member of the distinguished Dalassenos noble family.

Nothing is known of him before 995/6, when Emperor Basil II appointed him governor of Antioch in succession to Michael Bourtzes following the latters defeat in the Battle of the Orontes in September 994.

This post was one of the most important military positions in the Byzantine Empire, as its holder commanded the forces arrayed against the Fatimid Caliphate and the semi-autonomous Muslim rulers of Syria. In this capacity, he held the high title of magistros and or possibly patrikios.

Dalassenos maintained an aggressive stance against his enemy. In 996 his forces raided the area of Tripoli and Arqa, as Islamic General Manjutakin, unsuccessfully, laid siege to Aleppo and Antartus, which the Byzantines had occupied and refortified the previous year. Manjutakin was forced to withdraw when Dalassenos's army came to relieve the fortress. The Fatimid defeat was compounded by the sinking of a Fatimid fleet, that was intended to support Manjutakin's operations, before Antartus.

Dalassenos repeated his raids against the Islamic forces in Tripoli in 997, claiming numerous prisoners. Attacking the towns of Rafaniya, Awgh, and al-Lakma, capturing the latter and carrying off its inhabitants into captivity.

In June and July of 998, he marched his troops to Apamea to seize the city after a catastrophic fire in the city. The Muslim controlled Aleppine army tried to seize the city first, but withdrew at the approach of Dalassenos. The Magistros could not permit his vassals to gain self control.

The local Fatimid governor, al-Malaiti, called for aid, but the relief army under Jaysh ibn Samsama was delayed by having to deal first with suppressing the Byzantine-sponsored rebellion of Tyre. After Tyre had been subdued, Jaysh moved his army to Damascus, whence he proceeded to confront Dalassenos. Ibn al-Qalanisi reports that by this time.

Apamea was near surrender due to famine. As a result in what would become known as the battle of Apamea, fought on July 19 998, the Byzantines were initially victorious. By twist of fate a Kurdish officer managed to kill Dalassenos, whereupon the Byzantine army collapsed and fled. Leading to Islamic victory and loosing control of Apamea. Two of Dalassenos sons, became captives and were taken to Cairo, They remained captives in Egypt for ten years.

the sons Damian Dalassenos were:

-Constantine Dalassenos, governor of Antioch, favored by Emperor Constantine VIII (r. 1025–1028)

-Theophylaktos Dalassenos, also a governor of Antioch.

-Romanos Dalassenos, Katepano of Iberia.

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References

• https://byzantium.gr/battle.php?byzbat=c10_22c
• https://amp.ww.en.freejournal.org/28411509/1/battle-of-apamea.html
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Byzantine_governors_of_Ant...
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalassenos
• http://www.gedbas.de/person/ancestors/1036766091