Belisarius positions the Roman army only a few hundred yards in front of Dara's main gate with a hill protecting the left. A central ditch connects at right angles to parallel trenches, leaving a small number of crossings that Roman troops know how to use. Infantry and reserves stand behind the works, while Hun cavalry occupies forward positions beside the angled sections and the remaining horsemen cover the wings. Earlier Roman commanders had used fieldworks to protect flanks, but the passage finds no close parallel for shielding almost an entire battle line this way. With Dara behind the Romans, Peroz must defeat the field army before beginning a siege, so the geometry denies him room to exploit his superior numbers and funnels him into Belisarius's prepared frontal battle.
Chapter · 15:37-18:05
Belisarius makes trench geometry control Dara
An unusual connected trench system protects almost the entire Roman frontage, channels movement through controlled crossings, and forces Peroz toward the frontal attack Belisarius expects.