Разузнавачи, шпиони, предатели. Значение на разузнаването при действията на византийските войски в планинска местност (VI–XI в.)
Scouts, spies, traitors: the significance of reconnaissance missions in the operations carried out by the Byzantine armies in mountainous areas, 6th–11th centuries

Summary/Abstract: Spying and reconnaissance missions played an important role in the preparation of military campaigns and in their subsequent conduct. As long as the enemy’s plans, its combat readiness, defensive abilities and movements, in addition to the existing climate, the terrain layout, the road networks and the supply possibilities (the so-called theatre of military operations), remained unknown, the organization of any military operation was left to chance, significantly reducing the possibility of its success – especially when the troops had to march across the areas that were difficult to access and were thus particularly suited to set traps for the enemy. This holds true especially for mountainous areas filled with narrow paths, ravines, high-lying passes, precipices, steep rocks and forest-covered slopes. The article is based on the analysis of polemological works of a number of ancient and Byzantine authors – Onasandros, Frontinus, Polyaenus, Vegetius, Maurkios, Syrianos Magister, Leo VI the Wise, Leo Katakyles, Constantine VII Porphyrogennitos, anonymous works devoted to the so-called parodoromē method and principles underlying the construction of military camps, and the work by Kekaumenos. I attempted to reconstruct the basic principles developed by war art experts and adhered to in the use of reconnaissance units in the operations carried out in mountainous areas by Greek, Roman and Byzantine troops. The necessity of scouting mountainous areas every time the imperial troops were going to march across them, as well as the consequences of failing to follow this fundamental rule, are stressed. The article contains the description of particular reconnaissance units, including the types of scouts and the tasks with which they were entrusted. The rules followed in the attempts to obtain information from the locals and deserters about the enemy’s movements are also discussed. It has been indicated that showing disregard for these rules usually resulted in falling into a trap by the imperial army and, consequently, in its defeat. For this reason information derived from those who deserted the enemy’s ranks had to be carefully verified and confirmed by independent sources. In addition, the commander-in-chief and his staff could not go into war consultation without having information obtained by scouts. It was impossible to work out an effective plan of action without such information.

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