Ardagast or Radogost[4][5] (Ancient Greek: Ἀρδάγαστος Ardagastos; Cyrillic: Ардагаст; fl.
It could have been a personal name, or an acquired title designating the leader or chieftain of a council, assembly, or veche.
[12][13] 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.
[12] Ardagast may have used a primitive snorkel, fashioned from a reed, to hide in the river for an extended period of time; this technique is mentioned in the Strategikon of Maurice.
[14] 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.