title: Belisarius: The Last Roman General
author: Ian Hughes
description: <span style="">"competing military systems, weapons, tactics, and leaders, and includes considerable background material, to help explain the why of various political and even strategic decisions. Although marred by a lack of footnoting, Belisarius is an excellent work, useful for the serious student of the period, and a valuable introduction to the times for the novice."</span> (<i>The NYMAS Review</i>)
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  [Contents](0671578715_toc.htm)
  
  # **Chapter 13**
  
  By the time Belisarius reached his left flank, where the Greeks were holding
  back the Rajputs, his bucellarii were already arriving. He was deeply thankful
  for their speed in responding to his orders, but he took a moment to give
  himself a mental pat on the back.
  
  His tactics for this battle were at least half ruined, but Belisarius thought
  he could still pull his army out before disaster struck. If he did, it would
  be because of his past foresight. His Thracian cataphracts rode the finest
  heavy chargers in the world. Half the money for those magnificent and
  expensive warhorses was provided by Belisarius out of his own purse. Only the
  best steeds in the world, coming from halfway down the slope and carrying
  their own armor and armored cataphracts, could have reached the crest so
  quickly.
  
  And they would be needed. It took only the sight of Cyril's exhausted face for
  Belisarius to