However, in this instance, the Berber rebels manage to re-organize and prevail, for the pacified Moors gain the victory for Byzantines in the battle of the fields of cato which procopius mention as unexpected.
[2] After the conquest of the Vandal Kingdom in 534, the Byzantine Empire restored Roman rule over North Africa, but it quickly faced resistance from Berber tribes concerned about their autonomy.
In the midst of summer, the shortage of water and food becomes apparent, leading to a mutiny among the Byzantine troops[5] Quickly, John Troglita must retreat toward the coast, but adverse winds prevent the support fleet from approaching.
John Troglita orders his light troops to hold the downstream of the river, thwarting any attempts at crossing through the use of projectile weapons.
Soon, the Byzantines are vulnerable to the rebels' attacks, taking advantage of their adversaries' mobility challenges.Jean hesitates before committing the army, following the advice of his escort officers, the domestic protectors.
John Troglita, intervening personally to revive the courage of his troops, sees his horse shot from under him and, surrounded, has to free himself with his sword.
According to Corippus, the author of "La Johannide," an epic dedicated to John Troglita and the primary account of the battle, the defeat is explained by the nature of the terrain and the numerical superiority of the Berbers.
After their victory, Procopius notes that the Berber rebels extended their raids to the walls of Carthage and "exercised horrible cruelties on the inhabitants of the country.