Atlas of Battles

battle, major, medieval

Battle of Callinicum

Battle of Callinicum was a battle fought on 19 April AD 531 at Nikephorion, in what is now Syria. It was part of the Iberian War, which ran from AD 526 to AD 532. The recorded result: Sasanian victory (see Aftermath).

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The frontier between the Roman/Byzantine and Sassanid Persian empires in Late Antiquity (4th-7th centuries). Basemap taken from Image:Arshakuni Armenia 150-en.svg. Sources: G. Greatrex & S.N.C. Li
The frontier between the Roman/Byzantine and Sassanid Persian empires in Late Antiquity (4th-7th centuries). Basemap taken from Image:Arshakuni Armenia 150-en.svg. Sources: G. Greatrex & S.N.C. Li. Cplakidas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought19 April AD 531
WhereNikephorion, Syria35.950N, 39.017E
OutcomeSasanian victory (see Aftermath)
BelligerentsByzantine Empire; GhassanidsagainstSasanian Empire; Lakhmids
Part ofIberian WarAD 526 to AD 532

Where it sits in the Iberian War

Battle of Thannuris, AD 528Battle of Mindouos, AD 528Battle of Satala, AD 530Battle of Dara, AD 530Battle of Callinicum, AD 531AD 528AD 531Battle of Callinicum, AD 531
5 placed engagements of the Iberian War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date19 April AD 531
PlaceNikephorion, Syria
35.950N, 39.017E
KindBattle, medieval
Commanders
  • Belisarius
  • Hermogenes (magister officiorum)
  • Sunicas
  • Simmas
  • Ascan
  • Azarethes
  • Al-Mundhir III ibn al-Nu'man
Battle of CallinicumBattle of CallinicumBattle of SiffinSiege of HarranBattle of CarrhaeBattle of HarranBattle of BarbalissosBattle of SiffinSiege of HarranBattle of CarrhaeBattle of HarranBattle of BarbalissosGaziantepDayr az ZawrKilisAl HasakahManbijIzaz100 km35.950N, 39.017E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of Callinicum
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 25 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.

The recorded site stands at about 263 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from 0 to 272 m, 272 m of relief, hilly country and today it is 63% built-up, 12% cropland, 10% bare ground.

built-up: 63%cropland: 12%bare ground: 10%grassland: 6%water: 6%tree cover: 2%built-up 63%cropland 12%bare ground 10%grassland 6%water 6%
west to east, 10.0 km0 to 264 mnorth to south, 10.0 km236 to 263 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 531

Battle of Callinicum is one of 120 engagements of the 6th century in the atlas and one of 133 in present-day Syria.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1265750, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Callinicum, revision 1384993987, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.