Byzantine-Sasanian struggle for the Caucasus: the Lazic War and warfare in Late Antiquity- Dr Nika Khoperia (Georgian Institute of Public Affairs & Giorgi Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies, Tbilisi)
The Lazic War (541–562 CE) was one of the most significant conflicts in the Caucasus, fought between the Byzantine Empire and Sasanian Iran over control of Lazica, corresponding to modern western Georgia. The war highlighted the strategic importance of the eastern Black Sea region as a corridor between the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Following the Sasanian occupation of Iberia in the early sixth century, Lazica emerged as a central arena of imperial rivalry: the Sasanians sought access to the Black Sea, while the Byzantines aimed to maintain their political and military influence in the region. Although generally aligned with Byzantium, the Lazian Kingdom periodically shifted its allegiance in response to evolving political pressures and military realities.
This lecture examines the decisive role of resources and logistics in the struggle for control over Lazica. Drawing on narrative sources, modern scholarship, and archaeological evidence, it analyzes the acquisition, transportation, and management of military supplies for troops and animals, the maintenance of communication and supply lines, and the provisioning of key fortifications. Through a comparative approach, the study explores the logistical practices of the Byzantine and Sasanian armies, as well as those of nomadic groups such as the Huns and the Alans. By situating the Lazic War within its environmental and geographical context and by drawing parallels with later periods, the lecture offers new insights into the dynamics of warfare and imperial competition in Late Antiquity.
Dr Nika Khoperia is an assistant professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs and researcher at the Giorgi Tsereteli Institute of Oriental Studies, Tbilisi.
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