A Sasanian victory at Onoguris forced the Byzantines to abandon Archaeopolis, shifting momentum in the Lazic War toward the Sasanian Empire.
Key Facts
- Conflict
- Lazic War (Byzantine–Sasanian War)
- Date
- 554 or 555 AD
- Byzantine commander
- Martin
- Sasanian relief commander
- Nachoragan
- Key Byzantine base abandoned
- Archaeopolis
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Byzantine generals under Martin, seeking to restore their standing after the politically damaging assassination of their ally King Gubazes II of Lazica, needed a swift battlefield success. They targeted the newly constructed Sasanian fort at Onoguris, located near the major Byzantine stronghold of Archaeopolis, hoping a decisive blow would rehabilitate their position.
The Byzantines launched a full-scale assault on the Sasanian fort at Onoguris. The arrival of a small but timely Sasanian relief force under the newly appointed commander Nachoragan reversed the course of the engagement, turning what the Byzantines expected to be a quick victory into a decisive Sasanian triumph.
Following their defeat at Onoguris, the Byzantine forces abandoned their base at Archaeopolis entirely. The Sasanians then destroyed Archaeopolis and gained significant strategic momentum in the broader Lazic War, consolidating their position in the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Martin.
Side B
1 belligerent
Nachoragan.