The raid in Thrace in 585 prompted
Emperor Maurice to deal with the Slavs – sending an army under commander-in-chief
Priscus and infantry commander Gentzon to cross the
Danube at
Dorostolon (present-day Silistra) and to carry out a surprise attack on the Slavs in their own territory (as the Slavs had long been pillaging the
Byzantine Empire). The Byzantine army arrived at the Slavic camp at midnight, surprising the Slavs, who fled in confusion; Ardagast fell on a tree stump and was almost captured, but luckily he was near a river and eluded the attackers. Priscus sent his lieutenant
Alexander across the
Helibakion (
Ialomiţa River) to find Slavs who were hiding in the woods and swamps, they failed to burn out the people hiding there, but a
Gepid Christian who was associated with the Slavs deserted and revealed a secret passage. The Byzantine army then easily captured the Slavs, who according to the Gepid, were subjects of
rex Musokios. == References ==