Battle of Melitene (576)

Battle of Melitene
Part of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 572–591

Byzantine-Sasanian frontier
DateSpring 576
Location
Result Byzantine victory
Territorial
changes
Failure of Khosrow's plans to capture Edessa
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire Sasanian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Justinian
Cours
Khosrow I
Strength
50,000
  • 70,000 — 90,000
    • 24 elephants
Casualties and losses
Unknown 35,000 to 45,000 killed

The Battle of Melitene, fought in 576, pitted a Byzantine army under the command of Justinian and Curs against a numerically superior Sasanian army led by Khosrow I. As a result of the battle, the Sasanian king forced to retreat, abandoning his army. Most of the soldiers in his army were killed during the retreat.