Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.

The purpose of the piece Sztuka wojenna Słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty [The military craft of Slavs as presented in the work of Theophylat Simocatta] was to demonstrate the military history of Slavs in the context of the work of Theophylact Simocatta, a leading source of information a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Łukasz Różycki
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: Wydawnictwo Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne WFPiK UAM; Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk 2016-01-01
Series:Slavia Antiqua
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/sla/article/view/10325
_version_ 1797336317122576384
author Łukasz Różycki
author_facet Łukasz Różycki
author_sort Łukasz Różycki
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of the piece Sztuka wojenna Słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty [The military craft of Slavs as presented in the work of Theophylat Simocatta] was to demonstrate the military history of Slavs in the context of the work of Theophylact Simocatta, a leading source of information about the Balkans at the end of the 6th century. All the fragments including any information about Slavs’ military operations were analyzed and then verified against other contemporary sources, mainly the military treatise Strategikon. The results were anything but dubious; Theophylact’s account of Slavs was corroborated not only in the works of other historians (Procopius and John of Ephesus), but also in a military treatise, most likely written by an experienced commander (Strategikon). The work of Theophylact presents Slavic war craft as a simple, tribal affair. The barbarians made use of all the available stratagems in order to gain advantage over Romans whose military experience and material culture surpassed that of Slavs. Accounts of ambushes, night raids, swift attacks and rapid retreats (especially mentions of how the Slavs adapted to fighting in the woods) appear in all reliable sources. Another frequently mentioned fact is Slavs’ skill in crossing rivers in which they excelled. A comparative analysis of the sources confirms that all ancient authors regarded Slavs highly skilled in this respect. Another conclusion was that Slavs acted differently in Roman territories (where in the event of an attack, they would typically retreat) than in their own lands which they were prepared to defend at any cost. A verification of the reliability of Theophylact Simocatta’s account of the Slavic military craft gives grounds for attempting a more detailed assessment of their activities in the final two decades of the 6th century, and as such adds to our knowledge about barbarian tribes penetrating the Balkans.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T08:52:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-b2bfbc903a3441dfa547831d8435d716
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0080-9993
language ces
last_indexed 2024-03-08T08:52:31Z
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Wydawnictwo Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne WFPiK UAM; Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk
record_format Article
series Slavia Antiqua
spelling doaj.art-b2bfbc903a3441dfa547831d8435d7162024-02-01T08:01:14ZcesWydawnictwo Poznańskie Studia Polonistyczne WFPiK UAM; Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół NaukSlavia Antiqua0080-99932016-01-015710.14746/sa.2016.57.3Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.Łukasz Różycki0Instytut Historii UAMThe purpose of the piece Sztuka wojenna Słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty [The military craft of Slavs as presented in the work of Theophylat Simocatta] was to demonstrate the military history of Slavs in the context of the work of Theophylact Simocatta, a leading source of information about the Balkans at the end of the 6th century. All the fragments including any information about Slavs’ military operations were analyzed and then verified against other contemporary sources, mainly the military treatise Strategikon. The results were anything but dubious; Theophylact’s account of Slavs was corroborated not only in the works of other historians (Procopius and John of Ephesus), but also in a military treatise, most likely written by an experienced commander (Strategikon). The work of Theophylact presents Slavic war craft as a simple, tribal affair. The barbarians made use of all the available stratagems in order to gain advantage over Romans whose military experience and material culture surpassed that of Slavs. Accounts of ambushes, night raids, swift attacks and rapid retreats (especially mentions of how the Slavs adapted to fighting in the woods) appear in all reliable sources. Another frequently mentioned fact is Slavs’ skill in crossing rivers in which they excelled. A comparative analysis of the sources confirms that all ancient authors regarded Slavs highly skilled in this respect. Another conclusion was that Slavs acted differently in Roman territories (where in the event of an attack, they would typically retreat) than in their own lands which they were prepared to defend at any cost. A verification of the reliability of Theophylact Simocatta’s account of the Slavic military craft gives grounds for attempting a more detailed assessment of their activities in the final two decades of the 6th century, and as such adds to our knowledge about barbarian tribes penetrating the Balkans.https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/sla/article/view/10325Słowianie (Slavs)Bałkany (Balkans)Bizancjum (Byzantium)wojskowość (warfare)Teofilakt Symokatta (Theophylaktos Simokates)VI wiek (VI century)
spellingShingle Łukasz Różycki
Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
Slavia Antiqua
Słowianie (Slavs)
Bałkany (Balkans)
Bizancjum (Byzantium)
wojskowość (warfare)
Teofilakt Symokatta (Theophylaktos Simokates)
VI wiek (VI century)
title Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
title_full Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
title_fullStr Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
title_full_unstemmed Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
title_short Sztuka wojenna słowian w świetle dzieła Teofilakta Symokatty.
title_sort sztuka wojenna slowian w swietle dziela teofilakta symokatty
topic Słowianie (Slavs)
Bałkany (Balkans)
Bizancjum (Byzantium)
wojskowość (warfare)
Teofilakt Symokatta (Theophylaktos Simokates)
VI wiek (VI century)
url https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/sla/article/view/10325
work_keys_str_mv AT łukaszrozycki sztukawojennasłowianwswietledziełateofilaktasymokatty