Dara (Mesopotamia)

Dara - Anastasiupolis ( Δαραί; ' Aναστασιούπολις ) was an important East Roman fortress city in late antiquity, northern Mesopotamia between Nisibis and Mardin; now located in its place the small village of Oğuz (Turkey).

Probably the older place Dara ( s ) has been re-established by Emperor Anastasius 505 or greatly expanded, hence the name Anastasiupolis. The project was a major consequence of the 502 broken Persian War, it should improve the strategic position of the Romans. The work was carried out under great time pressure to make the Persian Sassanids fait accompli: When they concluded a truce end 506, Dara was already ready defense. Because of the mentioned parts but showed a few years heavy construction defects, so the fortress had to be extensively renovated, was about 530 particularly vulnerable and the scene of the great battle of Dara, in which the imperial general Belisarius could beat the Sassanid Persians. As Dara apparently was a huge construction site at this time, the Romans did not trust it on the fortress walls, but placed themselves in front of the city to the battle.

According to Procopius ( De Aedificiis 2, 1-3) Emperor Justinian then expand the buildings in the city and especially the walls; he gave the fortified town of the name Iustiniana Nova, but not sat down. The two stages of expansion ( Anastasius and Justinian ) are still clearly visible on the fortifications preserved today. Immediately in front of the walled city of Dara Dam was built for flood control, one of the oldest known arch dams. According to Marcellinus Comes Dara was only 15 Roman miles west of Nisibis (Mark com ad ann 518.. ); this important city belonged to Persia and was constantly threatened by the Eastern Roman fort and the troops stationed there. Conversely, Dara was the Roman territory from the strong Persian garrison was stationed in Nisibis protect.

Since the Romans had violated the construction of the fortress, which was initially the headquarters of the dux Mesopotamiae, against decades-old contractual arrangements with the Sassanids, which prohibited the construction of new fortifications near the border, Dara was always the occasion for diplomatic clashes between the two great powers. In Perpetual Peace of 532 the Persian king Chosroes I. Although renounced to the call to raze the fortress, but it had to Justinian the dux Mesopotamiae and a significant portion of his troops pull out of the city. In the following period, the Romans were concerned for the safety of Dara, where it also came to 537 failed usurpation of John Cottistis; so put the diplomatic protocol states that Sassanid emissaries should enter the fort only without their military escort ( Const. Porph. Caerem. 1.89 ), since otherwise feared a coup. The city, which held a key position in the Eastern Roman Orient defense was besieged several times after 573 of the Persians, conquered and reconquered to be finally conquered 639 final by the Arabs and to quickly completely lose their significance in light of the radically changed circumstances.