Earth, Water, Air, and Fire: Zoroastrian Succession

Hello forum members and all readers, and welcome to the world of the suriving zoroastrian states and their successors.

First and foremost I acknowledge that I am writing roughly a timeline of an historical fiction. Therefore, in writing an alternate timeline there are similarities to and differences between certain historicities, and similar historical fiction.

That said, I reserve only the right to be wrong in my perception of the possible effects of an alternate scenario within historicities.


Chapter One - Byzantine–Sassanid Wars Part I



It was April 531, and the Sassanid Persian Empire was on the offensive against the Eastern Roman Empire. Under the command of Azarethes a Persian force marches on the contested boarder, while led by Belisarius a Roman force gives chace. On Easter Day 531 the the two forces reach confrontation at Callinicum. Belisarius had hoped to avoid a costly battle, but the army under his command was waiting for a fight and was restless for war.
Belisarius used a formation confusing to his opponents. He placed his left flank on the bank of the river with infantry, put the Ghassanid Arab allies on the right flank, and heavy cavalry, cataphracts, in the center. In a standard formation the Persians split their forces into two equal groups, with infantry in front of cavalry.
The battle was for most of the day a stalemate. Then the persians broke though romans the right flank with great force, and that many ghassanids fled. With his right flank compromised Belisarius starts to retreat with his army over the river. However, then the persains cut off the roman left flank before Belisarius can reform his deffense to protect the army's withdraw across the river.
The persians surround the roman center flank, and eventually wear down the remaining left flank so that soldiers were diving into the river to escape rather than defending the line of retreat. Belisarius and his fellow commanders escape, as does a portion of the left flank. The Battle of Callinicum was a massacre for the Romans.
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Next Chapter Justinian I's reaction to the loss at Callinicum, and his conquests.
 
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why thank you, there was supposed to be an image but aparently i don't know how that works i'll get it and post an update
 
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