He dispersed his troops by garrisons throughout the towns, allowing the commanders to fight singly.
It didn't hurt that the Syndic commander fought stupidly.
Local Russian commanders, to pressure Georgia, did not fight for the Abkhazians, but gave or sold them arms, including tanks.
But a dead commander does not fight again, nor does one without many armsmen.
Political leaders have concerns that stretch from the geopolitical to the parochial, and these determine the nature of the battlefield on which commanders must fight.
The following units and commanders fought in the Battle of Rain.
But as mujahedeen commanders fought one another for control of the city in the early 90's, it became one of many casualties.
The following units and commanders fought at the Battle of Schellenberg on July 2, 1704.
Without Boaz, their real commander, to radio-control them, they fought listlessly, to say the least.
The following units and commanders fought in the Battle of Ligny 16 June 1815.