Zolban or Zolbon (fl. 491) was a Hun general fighting for the Byzantine Empire.[1][2] He fought alongside fellow Hun commander Sigizan against the Isaurians in 493 AD.[3]

History

He was a commander of the Hun auxiliaries in the Byzantine Empire.[4] Zolban commanded the Huns in the army of Eastern Roman emperor Anastasius I Dicorus against the Isaurian rebels in the Isaurian War (492-497). In this conflict, the East army probably sided with the Isaurians. The (Roman) Imperial army consisted chiefly of troops and leaders posted in Thrace, and it included about 6,500 cavalrymen with the Praesental Army, 3,500 cavalrymen with the Thracian Army, 2,000 Scholarii, 2,000 horsemen under Justin, and 10,000 Huns under Zolban and Sigizan, for an estimated combined cavalry force of 34,000, adding to 70,000 infantrymen.[5] The armies were evenly matched in terms of numbers, but the Imperial Army included more cavalrymen.[5] At the major Battle of Cotyaeum, Lilingis, an Isaurian governor and excellent horseman, was killed, and the Imperial Army destroyed most of their adversaries. However, as they stopped to pillage, some of the Isaurians managed to flee to the mountains and the war, which might've ended with this battle, dragged on for several years of guerilla warfare and sieges.[5][6]

The war eventually resulted in a Roman victory.[7]

Etymology

His name is of Turkic origin, cf. Zolbon (colban, colbon, solbon), the "shepherd's star", i.e. Venus, and Colpan, a Mamluk name.[8]

References

  1. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. "The World of the Huns. Chapter IX. Language". www.kroraina.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ Winsor, Justin; Creighton, Mandell; Lane Poole, Reginald; Gardiner Rawson, Samuel; Goronwy Edwards, Sir John, eds. (1893). The English Historical Review Volume 8. Oxford University Press. p. 234. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. (2022). Knight, Max (ed.). The World of the Huns Studies in Their History and Culture. University of California Press. p. 383. ISBN 9780520357204. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. "The World of the Huns. Chapter IX. Language". www.kroraina.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Syvänne, Ilkka (2021). Military History of Late Rome 457-518. Pen & Sword Books Limited. p. 170. ISBN 9781473895355. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  6. ^ Laing, Jennifer; Laing, Lloyd (2000). Warriors of the Dark Ages. Sutton. p. 46. ISBN 9780750919203. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  7. ^ Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin; Martindale, J. R.; Morris, John (1971). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 2, AD 395-527. Cambridge University Press. p. 1205. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  8. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto J. "The World of the Huns. Chapter IX. Language". www.kroraina.com. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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