Ambush of Aigan and Rufinus

Ambush of Aigan and Rufinus
Part of Byzantine–Moorish wars
Date Late 534 Location Inner regions Byzacena, modern day Tunisia Result Berber victory Start of the Byzantine–Moorish wars
Belligerents
Berber tribes Mastraciani	Eastern Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Cutzinas Esdilasas Mesdinissas Iourphoutes	Aigan   † Rufinus

The Ambush of Aigan and Rufinus was a clash between various Berber forces under the command four tribal chieftains spearheaded by the Mastraciani and their chief Cutzinas, and a force of Byzantine cavalry led by the acclaimed Hunnic commander Aigan and Rufinus. Preceding the ambush, these chieftains had already threatened the magister militum of the Praetorian prefecture of Africa, Solomon, who then threatened with keeping their children hostage in Carthage. ^[1] During the battle, the Berbers first trapped the Byzantines in a narrow pass, ^[2] in response to which the Byzantine soldiers began firing arrows and other projectiles at the Berbers to keep them at bay. ^{[2] [3]} However, when the Byzantines ran out of arrows the Berber forces closed in and slaughtered them. Aigan was killed in combat, while Rufinus was first captured, but then the chieftain Medinissas beheaded him to show his head off as a trophy. ^{[3] [4]}

The ambush had severe consequences and was the first military action in the Byzantine–Moorish wars, a series of conflicts with varying intensity across North Africa that would last for 14 years.

References

1. Heather, Peter (2018-05-01). Rome Resurgent: War and Empire in the Age of Justinian. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-936275-2.
2. Syvänne, Ilkka (2021-06-14). Military History of Late Rome 518–565. Pen and Sword Military. ISBN   978-1-4738-9530-0.
3. MacDowall, Simon (2016-07-31). The Vandals. Pen and Sword. ISBN   978-1-4738-8022-1.
4. Martindale, J. R.; Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin (1992-10-15). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire 2 Part Set: Volume 3, AD 527-641. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-20160-5.