Maurice's Balkan campaigns
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Were a series of military expeditions conducted by Roman Emperor Maurice in an attempt to defend the Balkan provinces of the Roman Empire from the Avars and the South Slavs.
Chronology
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December 597: The Avar Khaganate, led by Khagan Bayan I, launched a winter attack in 597-598 on the territories of Thrace and Moesia. The Avars were a nomadic people of Central Asian origin who frequently raided and plundered settlements in Eastern Europe during this time period.
January 594: Winter 593/594: Favored by the retreat of the Roman troops to the winter quarters in Odessos (today's Varna), the Slavs crossed the Danube again in the winter around the turn of the year 593/594, again plundering through Moesia and Macedonia.
January 588: In 587, the Byzantine Empire's deployment in Thrace and Moesia, led by Emperor Maurice, was a failure. This allowed the Avars, a nomadic group from the Eurasian steppes, to advance towards the Sea of Marmara, threatening Byzantine territories in the region.
September 599: In the summer of 599, the Romans broke the peace treaty. Priscus and Komentiolus took their armies downstream to nearby Viminacium and crossed the Danube from there. On the north bank they defeated the Avars for the first time in pitched battle on their own land.
January 584: Avar raid into the Balkan Peninsula and the Peloponnese.
January 586: Avar raid in Greece.
February 584: End of an Avar raid into the Balkan Peninsula and the Peloponnese.
January 585: The following year, the Avars conquered Singidunum (present-day Belgrade) and Viminacium.
February 586: At Adrianople in 584/585, Byzantine Emperor Maurice forced the Slavs to retreat from Thrace and then pounce on defenseless Greece.
January 587: In 587, the Balkan Peninsula, Northern Greece, faced attacks from the Avar invaders. They successfully destroyed several cities including Ratiaria, Oescus, Durostorum, Marcianopolis, and Bononia. Thessaloniki was also besieged during this time, causing widespread destruction and chaos in the region.
February 587: End of the Avar raid in the Balkan Peninsula.
February 588: In 588, the Eastern Roman Empire deployed troops in Thrace and Moesia, but the operation was a failure. This allowed the Avars, a nomadic people from Central Asia, to advance towards the Sea of Marmara, posing a threat to the empire's territories in the region.
January 593: In 592 Roman troops recaptured Singidunum, which had been occupied again by the Avars.
June 593: Roman Emperor Maurice stopped the attacks of the Slavs on Moesia and defeated them several times before pursuing them across the Danube into today's Wallachia, where he managed to defeat Slavs despite the wooded and swampy area.
July 593: Roman Emperor Maurice stopped the attacks of the Slavs on Moesia and defeated them several times before pursuing them across the Danube into today's Wallachia, where he managed to defeat Slavs despite the wooded and swampy area.
February 594: Winter 593/594: Favored by the retreat of the Roman troops to the winter quarters in Odessos (today's Varna), the Slavs crossed the Danube again in the winter around the turn of the year 593/594, again plundering through Moesia and Macedonia.
January 596: Priskos was a Byzantine diplomat and historian who served as an envoy to the Avar Khaganate. The Avars, a nomadic people, decided to invade Dalmatia instead of engaging in direct conflict with Priskos.
February 596: Priskos was a Byzantine general and diplomat who was sent to negotiate with the Avars. The Avars, a nomadic people from Central Asia, decided to change their strategy and invaded Dalmatia instead of engaging in direct conflict with Priskos and the Eastern Roman Empire in 596.
January 598: The Avar winter attack of 597-598 in Thrace and Moesia was a military campaign by the Avar Khanate against the Eastern Roman Empire. The Avars, led by their Khan Bayan I, launched a devastating invasion during the harsh winter months, causing widespread destruction and plundering of the region.
October 599: In the summer of 599, the Romans broke the peace treaty. Priscus and Komentiolus took their armies downstream to nearby Viminacium and crossed the Danube from there. On the north bank they defeated the Avars for the first time in pitched battle on their own land.
January 603: In 602, the Slavs in Wallachia were decisively defeated by the Eastern Roman Empire under the leadership of Emperor Maurice.
February 603: The Roman army leaves Wallachia after decisively defeating the Slavs.
