300:
945:
1173:
272:
239:
913:. Over these and the next few years, a regular pattern emerged: the Byzantines would campaign in Bulgaria, laying siege to forts and pillaging the countryside, while the numerically inferior Bulgarians, unable to offer direct opposition, launched diversionary raids in Macedonia and Greece. Despite some successes, these did not achieve any permanent results, nor did they force Basil to abandon his campaigns in Bulgaria. A counter-attack in 1009 failed at the
1046:
manoeuvre his troops around the high
Belasitsa mountain and threaten the Bulgarians from behind, while he continued the assaults on the wall. Xiphias led his troops along a steep path that led him into the Bulgarians' rear. On July 29, Xiphias attacked the Bulgarian defenders, trapping them in the valley. The Bulgarians abandoned their towers to face this new threat and Basil was able to break through the front line and destroy the wall.
52:
1082:
788:, who had infiltrated the Bulgarian positions. The ensuing battle was a major defeat for the Bulgarians. Thousands of Bulgarian soldiers were captured and blinded by order of Basil II, who would subsequently be known as the "Bulgar-Slayer". Samuel survived the battle, but died two months later from a heart attack, reportedly brought on by the sight of his blind soldiers.
307:
279:
246:
983:
had surrendered the town to Basil II. To face this threat, Samuel gathered a large army to face the
Byzantines, some claiming it numbered as many as 45,000 soldiers. Basil II also prepared carefully, assembling a large army of his own and taking his most experienced commanders, including the governor
1180:
The death of
Botaneiates and the four more years of war that followed indicate that the Byzantine success was not complete. Some modern historians doubt that the Bulgarian defeat was as complete as described by Skylitzes and Kekaumenos. Other historians emphasize that the death of Emperor Samuel two
974:
Samuel's decision to face Basil II and the bulk of his army at
Kleidion was not only prompted by the constant defeats and invasions which had devastated the country, but also by concerns over his authority among the nobility, which had been fatally weakened by Basil's campaigns. In 1005 for example,
925:
continued to invade
Bulgaria each year and destroy and devastate everything on his way. Samuel could not stop him in the open field or engage the Emperor in a decisive battle, and suffered many defeats and began to lose his strength." The culmination of the war came in 1014, when Samuel, at the head
2239:
Centralism and regionalism in early
Medieval Bulgaria (end of the 7th – beginning of the 11th centuries) (Tsentralizam i regionalizam v rannosrednowekovna Balgariya (kraya na VII – nachaloto na XI vek), Централизъм и регионализъм в ранносредновековна България (края на VII – началото на XI
1208:
Other theses in the historiography stress the significance of the battle. As a result of the battle of
Belasitsa, the Bulgarian army suffered heavy casualties that could not be restored. The ability of the central government to control the peripheral and interior provinces of the Empire was reduced
1139:
numbers the prisoners at 8,000. Basil divided the prisoners into groups of 100 men, blinded 99 men in each group and left one man in each with one eye so that he could lead the others home; this was done in retaliation for the death of
Botaneiates, who was Basil's favourite general and advisor, and
1099:
valley. On their way to the city, the
Byzantines seized the Matsukion fortress to the east of their advance. The Byzantine Emperor also sent an army under Botaneiates to surround Strumitsa and destroy all ramparts to the south and clear the passage to Thessalonica. With the remainder of his troops,
1045:
Basil's first attempt to overwhelm the defenders of the pass was unsuccessful and his army was unable to pass through the valley, which was defended by 15,000–20,000 Bulgarians. Despite the difficulties the
Byzantine Emperor did not abandon the attack. He ordered his general Nicephorus Xiphias to
952:
Samuel knew that the Byzantine army would have to invade the country through a series of mountain passes, and so took precautions to bar them. The Bulgarians built ditches along the frontier and fortified many of the valleys and passes with walls and towers, especially the pass of Kleidion on the
1016:
on the Struma river. From there the army entered the Strumitsa valley and reached the vicinity of the village of Klyuch, where the river bent and approached Belasitsa and Ozgrazhden. There the army was stopped by a thick wooden wall, defended by Bulgarian soldiers. The Byzantines attacked the
1065:) they were overwhelmed by the quickly advancing enemy. Many Bulgarian soldiers were killed at Mokrievo and many more were captured. Emperor Samuel himself barely escaped, only breaking free through the bravery of his son, who mounted his father on his own horse and took him to safety in
2163:
Gyuzelev, Vasil, Bulgaria from the second quarter of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century, (Balgaria ot vtorata chetvart na X do nachaloto na XI vek, България от втората четвърт на Х до началото на ХІ век), in Bulgarian, In: Dimitrov, Ilcho (Ed.),
1462:
estimates the total number of the Bulgarian army including the squads of local militia at maximum 45,000. The Byzantine historian Georgius Monachus Continuatus wrote that the Bulgarian army had 360,000 men, a greatly exaggerated number, the actual being 10 times
845:
being forced to renounce his imperial title in Constantinople, and eastern Bulgaria came under Byzantine rule. The Byzantines assumed that this act would signify the end of independent Bulgaria, but the western Bulgarian lands remained autonomous and under the
1100:
Basil laid siege to the city itself. The Bulgarians allowed Botaneiates to destroy the fortifications, but he and his army were ambushed by Bulgarian raiders in a narrow valley, soon after their task was complete. In the ensuing battle Botaneiates was
2208:), Vol. II: Bulgarian States and Bulgarians in the Middle Ages (Balgarskite darzhavi i balgarite prez Srednovekovieto, Българските държави и българите през Средновековието), TANGRA TanNakRA IK Publishers, in Bulgarian, Sofia 2004,
917:, and although the Byzantines themselves did not achieve any decisive success, their methodical war of attrition deprived the Bulgarians of their strongholds and gradually weakened their forces. In the words of Byzantine historian
837:, had lost much of its power. During the conflict, the Kievan raids were repeatedly defeated by the Byzantines, who were also at war with the Bulgarians, a continuous conflict since the fall of the Bulgarian capital
884:
threat in the east, Samuel retook most of the previously conquered Bulgarian lands and carried the war into enemy territory in a series of campaigns. However, his invasion of southern Greece, that reached as far as
962:
was a convenient place for attack and it had been used by Byzantine forces for this purpose in previous years. The Bulgarians disposed a strong guard to keep the pass safe. In addition, the Bulgarian ruler chose
349:
957:
which Basil would need to pass through to reach the heart of Bulgaria. Samuel heavily fortified the northern slopes of the Belasitsa mountain to the south and east of Strumitsa Castle. The wide valley of the
1104:
and the Bulgarian commander Gabriel Radomir personally stabbed Botaneiates with his spear. As a result, Basil II was forced to abandon the siege of Strumitsa and retreat. On the return, the eloquence of the
342:
2281:История на българската държава през средните векове. Том I. История на Първото българско царство, Част II. От славянизацията на държавата до падането на Първото царство (852–1018)
2005:
2470:
2475:
1140:
also to crush the Bulgarian morale. Another possible reason was that, from the Byzantine perspective, the Bulgarians were rebels against their authority, and blinding was the
2286:
History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages. Vol. 1. History of the First Bulgarian Empire, Part 2. From the Slavicization of the state to the fall of the First Empire (852–1018)
335:
1209:
and the actions of the local and provincial governors became more decisive for the outcome of the war with Byzantium. Many of them voluntarily surrendered to Basil II.
1042:
outside the city walls in a bloody battle. Theophylactus captured many soldiers and a large quantity of military equipment and marched north to join Basil at Klyuch.
1176:
South-eastern Europe c.1000. The Byzantine possessions and independent western Bulgaria are depicted. By that time, eastern Bulgaria was also in Bulgarian hands.
299:
1189:
were unable to effectively resist the attacks of Basil II, and Bulgaria was completely defeated in 1018. In that year Emperor Ivan Vladislav was killed in a
893:
in 996. The next phase of the war began in 1000, when Basil, having secured his own position, launched a series of offensives against Bulgaria. He secured
491:
477:
795:, the Battle of Kleidion reduced its ability to resist Byzantine advances, and it has been considered the pivotal encounter of the war with Byzantium.
1141:
1049:
In the confusion of the rout, thousands of Bulgarian troops were killed and the remainder desperately attempted to flee westwards. Samuel and his son
872:
ascended the throne in 976, he made the destruction of independent Bulgaria his first ambition. Opposing him were the western Bulgarians, now led by
2490:
2435:
2024:, Hristo, The Medieval Balkans. Historical Essays (Средновековните Балкани. Исторически очерци), in Bulgarian, Paradigma Publishers, Sofia, 2002,
876:. Basil II's first campaign was disastrous, the Emperor barely escaping with his life when the Bulgarians annihilated the Byzantine army in the
2465:
2107:
2485:
1220:, who were forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the Byzantine Emperor after 1018. The borders of the Byzantine Empire were restored to the
271:
2181:
Tsar Simeon Veliki (893–927): Zlatniyat vek na Srednovekovna Balgaria, Цар Симеон Велики (893–927): Златният век на Средновековна България
826:
521:
238:
2480:
2321:
2074:
2000:
2389:
56:
The Byzantines defeat the Bulgarians at Kleidion and Tsar Samuel becomes unconscious at the sight of his blinded army. Scene from the
2099:
2460:
2416:
2384:
2315:
2293:
2272:
2247:
2231:
2213:
2199:
2157:
2139:
2121:
2029:
1984:
1901:
1620:
621:
1678:
254:
540:
512:
2395:
2048:
101:
2365:
1944:
1812:
877:
650:
616:
577:
567:
547:
451:
2063:
1164:), "the Bulgar-slayer". Samuel died of a heart attack on October 6, 1014, reportedly due to seeing his soldiers blinded.
359:
2500:
1190:
602:
552:
528:
1878:
1024:, to strike southwards and draw the attention of Basil away from the siege at Klyuch. Nestoritsa's Bulgarians reached
822:. As a result, the Bulgarian state fought a series of wars with Byzantium in order to secure its continued existence.
670:
2402:
971:
to the west. The rugged terrain to the south was dotted with earthworks and walls guarded by strong Bulgarian units.
2327:
2495:
1198:
1186:
1182:
1050:
376:
199:
2436:"The Size of Bulgaria's Medieval Field Armies: A Case Study of Military Mobilization Capacity in the Middle Ages"
2224:
Balgarska voenna istoria prez srednovekovieto (X–XV vek), Българска военна история през средновековието (Х–XV век
1801:
indicates that blinding was the traditional punishment in Byzantium for a rebellion against the legitimate ruler.
1358:, Centralism and regionalism in early Medieval Bulgaria (end of the 7th – beginning of the 11th centuries) p. 130
1127:
Skylitzes records that Basil completely routed the Bulgarian army and took 15,000 prisoners (14,000 according to
1039:
446:
401:
396:
391:
386:
182:
1591:
609:
497:
483:
43:
833:. By that time, the Bulgarian Empire, which had once threatened the existence of Byzantium under the reign of
967:
for his defensive base — it was located on the road from Thessaloniki leading to Thrace to the east and
2505:
1029:
935:
633:
592:
792:
751:
426:
158:
1607:
Savvidēs, Alexis G. K. (1994). "Προσωπογραφικό σημείωμα για τον Βυζαντινό στρατηλάτη Νικηφόρο Ξιφία ".
665:
660:
461:
880:
in 986. Over the next fifteen years, while Basil was preoccupied with revolts against his rule and the
944:
1136:
1128:
890:
842:
834:
830:
819:
811:
773:
690:
557:
502:
468:
441:
178:
91:
2308:
Zalezat na Parvoto balgarsko tsarstvo (1015–1018), Залезът на Първото българско царство (1015–1018)
1101:
1090:
533:
456:
411:
406:
83:
2256:
1157:
910:
873:
785:
762:
675:
587:
195:
174:
58:
926:
of his army, resolved to stop the Byzantine army before it could enter the Bulgarian heartland.
1427:
A description of the palisade built by Samuel between Belasitsa and Ograzhden (in Bulgarian) –
1172:
2412:
2380:
2311:
2289:
2268:
2243:
2227:
2209:
2195:
2153:
2135:
2117:
2025:
1980:
1897:
1818:
1616:
866:
855:
851:
755:
685:
645:
626:
436:
2406:
2071:
780:. The decisive encounter occurred on July 29 with an attack in the rear by a force under the
1587:
1225:
1194:
1112:
902:
859:
781:
747:
680:
655:
597:
562:
431:
186:
153:
136:
1853:[The Newly Discovered Inscription of Tsar Samuel and the Events of the Year 1014].
1095:
After his victory, Basil II advanced towards Strumitsa, which was key to holding the whole
2369:
2103:
2094:
2078:
2067:
2052:
2009:
1948:
1882:
1682:
1575:
1135:, claim that these numbers are exaggerated. The 14th century Bulgarian translation of the
1132:
1062:
959:
914:
640:
572:
507:
381:
1115:
to surrender, another heavy blow for the Bulgarians as the town guarded the main road to
765:
in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. The result was a decisive Byzantine victory.
1583:
1334:, Bulgarian Military History in the Middle Ages (10th–15th centuries), pp. 39–41, 43–44
1149:
939:
918:
709:
51:
2454:
1675:
1005:
1233:
1224:
for the first time since the 7th century, allowing Byzantium to control the entire
1202:
1107:
1025:
1020:
In response, Samuel sent a large army under one of the most able Bulgarian nobles,
954:
808:
17:
2349:
1081:
1428:
2411:(in German). Nachdr. d. Ausg. Prag 1876, Hildesheim, New York : Olms 1977.
2045:
1749:, Bulgarian Military History in the Middle Ages (10th–15th centuries), pp. 55–56
1229:
2362:
2192:
Samuilovata darzhava. Obhvat i harakter, Самуиловата държава. Обхват и характер
1941:
1896:, P., The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer, Cambridge University Press, 2003,
1826:
1594:
and several other historians. It is not clear what edition is referred to here.
2279:
2206:
Podbrani izvori na balgarskata istoria, Подбрани извори за българската история
2060:
1021:
1013:
847:
2342:
2134:), in Bulgarian, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Publishing House, Sofia 1992,
1822:
116:
103:
2336:
1875:
1666:, Bulgarian Military History in the Middle Ages (10th–15th centuries), p. 55
1237:
1054:
1034:
964:
769:
2044:, A., History of the Byzantine empire, 6. The Macedonian epoch (867–1081),
1406:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages , Vol. I, Part 2, pp. 731–732, 736
980:
327:
1057:
fortress to aid their army, but in desperate fighting near the village of
2345:, An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors retrieved on 16 November 2007.
1963:, Centralism and Regionalism in Early Medieval Bulgaria, pp. 130–131, 143
1434:, pp. 76–79, in: Macedonian Review (journal), in Bulgarian, 1993, issue 2
1073:
while Gabriel Radomir headed towards Strumitsa to continue the struggle.
1058:
1001:
976:
922:
906:
881:
869:
758:
754:. It was the culmination of the nearly half-century struggle between the
170:
95:
2177:
Tsar Simeon the Great (893–927): The Golden Century of Medieval Bulgaria
2020:
Croatia was not conquered by Byzantium but became its vassal – see
1613:
Byzantine Prosopography, Topical History and Byzantine-Turkish Relations
2226:), in Bulgarian, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Publishers, Sofia 1994,
1615:] (in Greek). Athens: Κριτική Ιστορική Βιβλιοθήκη. pp. 25–27.
985:
886:
838:
804:
2423:, pp. 195–200 (pp. 195–197, 200 can be seen inside the link)
1609:Βυζαντινή προσωπογραφία, τοπική ιστορία και βυζαντινοτουρκικές σχέσεις
1916:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages, Vol. I, Part 2, pp. 740–741
1650:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages, Vol. I, Part 2, pp. 734–736
1547:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages, Vol. I, Part 2, pp. 732–734
1418:, Centralism and Regionalism in Early Medieval Bulgaria , pp. 179–180
1221:
1217:
1096:
1070:
1066:
1009:
989:
894:
815:
777:
723:
87:
988:), Nicephorus Xiphias, who had conquered the old Bulgarian capitals
2265:
Istoria na vizantiyskata darzhava, История на византийската държава
2220:
Bulgarian Military History in the Middle Ages (10th–15th centuries)
803:
The origins of the conflict date back to the 7th century, when the
1458:, Centralism and Regionalism in Early Medieval Bulgaria , p. 131.
1213:
1171:
1116:
1080:
968:
943:
898:
2046:
Relations of the Byzantine Empire with the Bulgarians and Magyars
901:. The next year, Basil inflicted a heavy defeat on Samuel in the
2310:), in Bulgarian, Marin Drinov Academic Publishers, Sofia, 1999,
1733:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages, Vol. I, Part 2, p. 738
1676:
Greek sources on the History of Bulgaria (in Bulgarian), Vol. VI
1475:, History of Bulgaria in the Middle Ages, Vol. I, Part 2, p. 731
1144:
meted out to rebels. For this action, Basil gained the nickname
418:
1523:, Centralism and Regionalism in Early Medieval Bulgaria, p. 146
1487:, Centralism and Regionalism in Early Medieval Bulgaria, p. 180
1017:
palisade immediately, but were repulsed with heavy casualties.
331:
1053:
immediately headed to the east from their headquarters in the
2150:
Lektsii po istoria na Vizantia, Лекции по история на Византия
1038:(governor-general) of the city and his son Mihail managed to
768:
The battle took place in the valley between the mountains of
713:
2072:Взаимоотношения Византийской империи с болгарами и мадьярами
1975:, P., The Balkan Frontier in the Year 1000, pp. 123–124 (в:
1181:
months later was much more fateful for Bulgaria. His heirs
227:
Devastating almost entire forces, allegedly 15,000 captured
2152:), in Bulgarian, Vol. II, Anubis Publishers, Sofia 1995,
2183:), in Bulgarian, Fatherland Front Publishers, Sofia 1983
2172:), in Bulgarian, Science and Arts Publishers, Sofia 1983
1851:Новооткритият надпис за цар Самуил и събитията в 1014 г.
1995:, Lecture notes on Byzantine history, Vol. ІІ, p. 280;
1000:
The Byzantine army marched from Constantinople through
862:
and Samuel, resistance against the Byzantines emerged.
841:
in 971. This war had resulted in the Bulgarian emperor
2170:
Kratka istoria na Balgaria, Кратка история на България
1282:, Tsar Simeon the Great, pp. 115–116, 124–126, 137–144
2304:
The Sunset of the First Bulgarian Kingdom (1015–1018)
2329:
Montenegrina digitalna biblioteka crnogorske kulture
2242:(in Bulgarian). Sofia: Academic Press Marin Drinov.
1582:
is a compilation chronicle based on the writings of
1382:, Historia, in "Selected sources" Vol. II, pp. 65–66
2188:The State of Samuel. Territory and Characteristics
1567:
1565:
258:Battle site indicated on a map of modern Bulgaria
2288:]. Sofia: Marin Drinov Academic Publishers.
1306:, Historia, in "Selected sources" Vol. II, p. 64
1942:A History of the First Bulgarian Empire, p. 248
36:
2055:, retrieved on 20 November 2007. (in Russian:
1979:, P., Byzantium in the Year 1000, Brill 2003,
1638:, Historia, "Selected sources", Vol. II, p. 66
1535:, Historia, "Selected sources", Vol. II, p. 66
2116:. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1997.
1431:The palisade of Samuel and the battle in 1014
343:
8:
2471:Battles involving the First Bulgarian Empire
2114:A History of the Byzantine State and Society
722:, after the medieval name of the village of
1928:, Making of Orthodox Byzantium, pp. 387–388
1602:
1600:
746:) took place on July 29, 1014, between the
727:
27:1014 battle of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars
350:
336:
328:
306:
278:
245:
33:
2194:), AGATA-A Publishing Group, Sofia 2000,
2059:, А. А., "История Византийской империи",
1817:. London: G. Bell and Sons. p. 242.
905:. By 1005, Basil had regained control of
2323:Doseljavanje slovena i dukljanska država
2002:Doseljavanje slovena i dukljanska država
791:Although the engagement did not end the
2476:Battles of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars
2359:A History of the First Bulgarian Empire
2218:Angelov, Dimitar, and Boris Cholpanov,
2204:Selected sources of Bulgarian history (
1814:A History of the First Bulgarian Empire
1248:
1131:). Modern historians, however, such as
776:, near the modern Bulgarian village of
2132:Kniga za balgarite, Книга за българите
2379:. Cambridge University Press (2003).
2377:The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer
7:
2390:The battle of Kleidion (in English).
1446:, History of Byzantium , pp. 404–405
948:Map of Bulgaria and Byzantium c.1000
889:, resulted in a major defeat in the
829:from the north by the Kievan prince
314:Battle of Kleidion (North Macedonia)
2396:The battle of Kleidion (in French).
1111:Sergius convinced the defenders of
2146:Lecture notes on Byzantine history
1785:, Short History of Bulgaria, p. 74
1685:, с. 284 (retrieved on 29.01.2008)
1370:, The State of Samuel, pp. 135–136
1346:, Short History of Bulgaria, p. 71
1270:, Short History of Bulgaria, p. 68
1258:, Book about the Bulgarians, p. 59
1069:. From Prilep, Samuel returned to
25:
2434:Stoyanov, Aleksandr (July 2019).
2106:, translated by Paul Stephenson.
992:and Preslav from Samuel in 1001.
522:Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria
2354:, retrieved on 20 November 2007.
1991:, History of Byzantium, p. 408;
1318:, The State of Samuel, pp. 94–95
1294:, The State of Samuel, pp. 58–59
1195:province of the Byzantine Empire
305:
298:
277:
270:
244:
237:
50:
2491:History of Blagoevgrad Province
2398:, retrieved on 28 January 2008.
2392:, retrieved on 28 January 2008.
2372:, retrieved on 28 January 2008.
2351:History of the Byzantine empire
1839:(retrieved on 7 September 2008)
1797:, The State of Samuel, p. 178.
897:, and in 1003, his forces took
818:in one of the provinces of the
2267:), in Bulgarian, Sofia, 1998,
975:the governor of the important
814:established a state along the
541:Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
1:
2466:1010s in the Byzantine Empire
1212:The battle also affected the
1028:, but Byzantine troops under
2486:Military history of Bulgaria
2440:Journal of Military History
317:Show map of North Macedonia
286:Battle of Kleidion (Greece)
2522:
2481:Battles of the Middle Ages
2278:Zlatarski, Vasil (1994) .
2008:February 16, 2021, at the
1088:
933:
761:and the Bulgarian emperor
714:
86:, close to the village of
2166:Short History of Bulgaria
2128:Book about the Bulgarians
2077:October 19, 2016, at the
2051:October 12, 2008, at the
1811:Runciman, Steven (1930).
1161:
1153:
984:of Philippopolis (modern
369:
231:
218:
205:
183:Theophylaktos Botaneiates
164:
147:
66:
49:
41:
2461:11th century in Bulgaria
2375:Stevenson, Paul (2003).
2343:De Imperatoribus Romanis
2338:Basil II (A.D. 976–1025)
2237:Nikolov, Georgi (2005).
1876:Basil II (A.D. 976–1025)
1850:
1608:
1592:Theophanes the Confessor
1193:, and Bulgaria became a
610:Uprising of Peter Delyan
361:Byzantine–Bulgarian wars
44:Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
2408:Geschichte der Bulgaren
1951:(retrieved on 7.9.2008)
1881:March 13, 2015, at the
1228:from the Danube to the
1030:Theophylact Botaneiates
936:Medieval Bulgarian Army
634:Second Bulgarian Empire
2368:March 4, 2016, at the
2186:Pirivatrich, Sardzan,
2108:Original Greek version
2102:July 13, 2001, at the
1947:March 4, 2016, at the
1849:Dobrev, Ivan (2004).
1681:June 12, 2018, at the
1499:, Historia, II, p. 457
1177:
1086:
949:
909:and parts of southern
793:First Bulgarian Empire
165:Commanders and leaders
2112:Treadgold, Warren T.
1394:, Historia, II, p. 45
1191:battle at Dyrrhachium
1175:
1084:
947:
219:Casualties and losses
117:41.36250°N 23.01750°E
2363:The end of an Empire
2332:on 20 November 2007.
2261:History of Byzantium
2066:May 6, 2007, at the
1077:Further developments
891:Battle of Spercheios
878:Gates of Trajan Pass
827:Bulgaria was invaded
820:Eastern Roman Empire
742:; also known as the
261:Show map of Bulgaria
255:class=notpageimage|
179:Constantine Diogenes
92:Blagoevgrad Province
2501:Battles of Basil II
2335:Holmes, Catherine,
2257:Ostrogorsky, George
2144:Mutafchiev, Petar,
2126:Mutafchiev, Petar,
1855:Старобългарис-тика
1580:Historical Synopsis
1511:, ibid., IV, p. 121
1199:successful uprising
1102:completely defeated
1091:Battle of Strumitsa
744:Battle of Belasitsa
113: /
84:Belasitsa Mountains
18:Battle of Belasitsa
2357:Runciman, Steven,
2096:Synopsis Historion
1773:, Historia, р. 458
1761:, Historia, р. 460
1721:, Historia, p. 459
1697:, Historia, p. 458
1559:, Historia, p. 457
1178:
1137:Manasses Chronicle
1087:
1085:Battle of Kleidion
950:
874:Samuel of Bulgaria
786:Nikephoros Xiphias
706:Battle of Kleidion
676:Uprising of Ivaylo
513:3rd Constantinople
452:2nd Constantinople
377:1st Constantinople
289:Show map of Greece
196:Samuel of Bulgaria
175:Nikephoros Xiphias
122:41.36250; 23.01750
59:Manasses Chronicle
37:Battle of Kleidion
2496:Conflicts in 1014
1771:Ioannes Scylitzes
1759:Ioannes Scylitzes
1719:Ioannes Scylitzes
1695:Ioannes Scylitzes
1636:Ioannes Scylitzes
1557:Ioannes Scylitzes
1533:Ioannes Scylitzes
1497:Ioannes Scylitzes
1392:Ioannes Scylitzes
1380:Ioannes Scylitzes
1304:Ioannes Scylitzes
867:Byzantine emperor
756:Byzantine Emperor
699:
698:
326:
325:
143:
142:
16:(Redirected from
2513:
2447:
2422:
2320:Ćirković, Sima,
2302:Pavlov, Plamen,
2299:
2253:
2175:Bozhilov, Ivan,
2093:John Skylitzes,
2082:
2039:
2033:
2018:
2012:
1970:
1964:
1958:
1952:
1935:
1929:
1923:
1917:
1911:
1905:
1891:
1885:
1869:
1863:
1862:
1857:(in Bulgarian).
1846:
1840:
1838:
1836:
1834:
1829:on March 4, 2016
1825:. Archived from
1808:
1802:
1792:
1786:
1780:
1774:
1768:
1762:
1756:
1750:
1740:
1734:
1728:
1722:
1716:
1710:
1704:
1698:
1692:
1686:
1673:
1667:
1657:
1651:
1645:
1639:
1633:
1627:
1626:
1604:
1595:
1588:George Syncellus
1569:
1560:
1554:
1548:
1542:
1536:
1530:
1524:
1518:
1512:
1506:
1500:
1494:
1488:
1482:
1476:
1470:
1464:
1453:
1447:
1441:
1435:
1425:
1419:
1413:
1407:
1401:
1395:
1389:
1383:
1377:
1371:
1365:
1359:
1353:
1347:
1341:
1335:
1325:
1319:
1313:
1307:
1301:
1295:
1289:
1283:
1277:
1271:
1265:
1259:
1253:
1226:Balkan peninsula
1163:
1155:
1142:usual punishment
1119:from the south.
1012:and reached the
903:Battle of Skopie
752:Bulgarian Empire
748:Byzantine Empire
741:
738:
735:
732:
729:
717:
716:
651:2nd Arcadiopolis
622:5th Thessalonica
617:4th Thessalonica
578:3rd Thessalonica
568:2nd Thessalonica
553:1st Thessalonica
529:1st Arcadiopolis
364:
362:
352:
345:
338:
329:
318:
309:
308:
302:
290:
281:
280:
274:
262:
248:
247:
241:
191:
159:Bulgarian Empire
154:Byzantine Empire
128:
127:
125:
124:
123:
118:
114:
111:
110:
109:
106:
68:
67:
54:
34:
21:
2521:
2520:
2516:
2515:
2514:
2512:
2511:
2510:
2451:
2450:
2433:
2430:
2428:Further reading
2419:
2401:
2370:Wayback Machine
2296:
2277:
2250:
2236:
2104:Wayback Machine
2090:
2088:Further reading
2085:
2079:Wayback Machine
2068:Wayback Machine
2053:Wayback Machine
2040:
2036:
2019:
2015:
2010:Wayback Machine
1971:
1967:
1959:
1955:
1949:Wayback Machine
1936:
1932:
1924:
1920:
1912:
1908:
1892:
1888:
1883:Wayback Machine
1870:
1866:
1852:
1848:
1847:
1843:
1832:
1830:
1810:
1809:
1805:
1793:
1789:
1781:
1777:
1769:
1765:
1757:
1753:
1741:
1737:
1729:
1725:
1717:
1713:
1709:, ibid., p. 121
1705:
1701:
1693:
1689:
1683:Wayback Machine
1674:
1670:
1658:
1654:
1646:
1642:
1634:
1630:
1623:
1610:
1606:
1605:
1598:
1576:George Kedrenos
1574:, pp. 457–458.
1570:
1563:
1555:
1551:
1543:
1539:
1531:
1527:
1519:
1515:
1507:
1503:
1495:
1491:
1483:
1479:
1471:
1467:
1454:
1450:
1442:
1438:
1426:
1422:
1414:
1410:
1402:
1398:
1390:
1386:
1378:
1374:
1366:
1362:
1354:
1350:
1342:
1338:
1326:
1322:
1314:
1310:
1302:
1298:
1290:
1286:
1278:
1274:
1266:
1262:
1254:
1250:
1246:
1183:Gabriel Radomir
1170:
1133:Vasil Zlatarski
1125:
1093:
1079:
1063:North Macedonia
1051:Gabriel Radomir
998:
960:Strumitsa River
942:
932:
921:: "The Emperor
915:Battle of Kreta
801:
739:
736:
733:
730:
702:
701:
700:
695:
365:
360:
358:
356:
322:
321:
320:
319:
316:
315:
312:
311:
310:
293:
292:
291:
288:
287:
284:
283:
282:
265:
264:
263:
260:
259:
257:
251:
250:
249:
200:Gabriel Radomir
198:
187:
181:
177:
173:
121:
119:
115:
112:
107:
104:
102:
100:
99:
98:
55:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
2519:
2517:
2509:
2508:
2506:1014 in Europe
2503:
2498:
2493:
2488:
2483:
2478:
2473:
2468:
2463:
2453:
2452:
2449:
2448:
2429:
2426:
2425:
2424:
2417:
2403:Jireček, K. J.
2399:
2393:
2387:
2373:
2355:
2348:Vasiliev, А.,
2346:
2333:
2318:
2300:
2294:
2275:
2254:
2248:
2234:
2216:
2202:
2184:
2173:
2161:
2142:
2124:
2110:
2089:
2086:
2084:
2083:
2034:
2013:
1965:
1953:
1930:
1918:
1906:
1886:
1864:
1841:
1803:
1787:
1775:
1763:
1751:
1735:
1723:
1711:
1699:
1687:
1668:
1652:
1640:
1628:
1621:
1596:
1584:John Skylitzes
1561:
1549:
1537:
1525:
1513:
1501:
1489:
1477:
1465:
1448:
1436:
1420:
1408:
1396:
1384:
1372:
1360:
1348:
1336:
1320:
1308:
1296:
1284:
1272:
1260:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1187:Ivan Vladislav
1169:
1166:
1154:Βουλγαροκτόνος
1146:Boulgaroktonos
1124:
1121:
1078:
1075:
997:
994:
940:Byzantine Army
931:
928:
919:John Skylitzes
800:
797:
697:
696:
694:
693:
688:
683:
678:
673:
671:2nd Adrianople
668:
663:
658:
653:
648:
643:
630:
629:
624:
619:
606:
605:
600:
595:
590:
585:
580:
575:
570:
565:
560:
555:
550:
548:Trajan's Gates
537:
536:
531:
518:
517:
516:
515:
510:
505:
500:
492:War of 913–927
488:
487:
486:
484:Boulgarophygon
478:War of 894–896
465:
464:
459:
454:
449:
447:1st Adrianople
444:
439:
434:
429:
415:
414:
409:
404:
399:
394:
389:
384:
379:
370:
367:
366:
357:
355:
354:
347:
340:
332:
324:
323:
313:
304:
303:
297:
296:
295:
294:
285:
276:
275:
269:
268:
267:
266:
253:
252:
243:
242:
236:
235:
234:
233:
232:
229:
228:
225:
221:
220:
216:
215:
212:
208:
207:
203:
202:
193:
167:
166:
162:
161:
156:
150:
149:
145:
144:
141:
140:
134:
130:
129:
82:
80:
76:
75:
72:
64:
63:
47:
46:
39:
38:
32:
31:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2518:
2507:
2504:
2502:
2499:
2497:
2494:
2492:
2489:
2487:
2484:
2482:
2479:
2477:
2474:
2472:
2469:
2467:
2464:
2462:
2459:
2458:
2456:
2446:(3): 719–746.
2445:
2441:
2437:
2432:
2431:
2427:
2420:
2418:3-487-06408-1
2414:
2410:
2409:
2404:
2400:
2397:
2394:
2391:
2388:
2386:
2385:0-521-81530-4
2382:
2378:
2374:
2371:
2367:
2364:
2360:
2356:
2353:
2352:
2347:
2344:
2340:
2339:
2334:
2331:
2330:
2325:
2324:
2319:
2317:
2316:954-430-630-7
2313:
2309:
2305:
2301:
2297:
2295:954-430-299-9
2291:
2287:
2283:
2282:
2276:
2274:
2273:954-8079-92-5
2270:
2266:
2262:
2258:
2255:
2251:
2249:954-430-787-7
2245:
2241:
2235:
2233:
2232:954-430-200-X
2229:
2225:
2221:
2217:
2215:
2214:954-9942-40-6
2211:
2207:
2203:
2201:
2200:954-540-020-X
2197:
2193:
2189:
2185:
2182:
2178:
2174:
2171:
2167:
2162:
2159:
2158:954-426-063-3
2155:
2151:
2147:
2143:
2141:
2140:954-430-128-3
2137:
2133:
2129:
2125:
2123:
2122:0-8047-2630-2
2119:
2115:
2111:
2109:
2105:
2101:
2098:
2097:
2092:
2091:
2087:
2080:
2076:
2073:
2069:
2065:
2062:
2058:
2054:
2050:
2047:
2043:
2038:
2035:
2031:
2030:954-9536-61-0
2027:
2023:
2017:
2014:
2011:
2007:
2004:
2003:
1998:
1994:
1990:
1986:
1985:90-04-12097-1
1982:
1978:
1974:
1969:
1966:
1962:
1957:
1954:
1950:
1946:
1943:
1939:
1934:
1931:
1927:
1922:
1919:
1915:
1910:
1907:
1903:
1902:0-521-81530-4
1899:
1895:
1890:
1887:
1884:
1880:
1877:
1874:, Catherine,
1873:
1868:
1865:
1860:
1856:
1845:
1842:
1828:
1824:
1820:
1816:
1815:
1807:
1804:
1800:
1799:СS. Pirivatic
1796:
1791:
1788:
1784:
1779:
1776:
1772:
1767:
1764:
1760:
1755:
1752:
1748:
1744:
1739:
1736:
1732:
1727:
1724:
1720:
1715:
1712:
1708:
1703:
1700:
1696:
1691:
1688:
1684:
1680:
1677:
1672:
1669:
1665:
1661:
1656:
1653:
1649:
1644:
1641:
1637:
1632:
1629:
1624:
1622:960-218-089-7
1618:
1614:
1603:
1601:
1597:
1593:
1589:
1585:
1581:
1577:
1573:
1568:
1566:
1562:
1558:
1553:
1550:
1546:
1541:
1538:
1534:
1529:
1526:
1522:
1517:
1514:
1510:
1505:
1502:
1498:
1493:
1490:
1486:
1481:
1478:
1474:
1469:
1466:
1461:
1457:
1452:
1449:
1445:
1440:
1437:
1433:
1432:
1424:
1421:
1417:
1412:
1409:
1405:
1400:
1397:
1393:
1388:
1385:
1381:
1376:
1373:
1369:
1364:
1361:
1357:
1352:
1349:
1345:
1340:
1337:
1333:
1329:
1324:
1321:
1317:
1312:
1309:
1305:
1300:
1297:
1293:
1288:
1285:
1281:
1276:
1273:
1269:
1264:
1261:
1257:
1252:
1249:
1243:
1241:
1239:
1235:
1232:and from the
1231:
1227:
1223:
1219:
1215:
1210:
1206:
1204:
1203:Asen brothers
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1184:
1174:
1167:
1165:
1159:
1151:
1147:
1143:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1122:
1120:
1118:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1103:
1098:
1092:
1083:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1061:(present-day
1060:
1056:
1052:
1047:
1043:
1041:
1037:
1036:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1018:
1015:
1011:
1007:
1003:
995:
993:
991:
987:
982:
978:
972:
970:
966:
961:
956:
946:
941:
937:
929:
927:
924:
920:
916:
912:
908:
904:
900:
896:
892:
888:
883:
879:
875:
871:
868:
863:
861:
857:
853:
849:
844:
840:
836:
832:
828:
823:
821:
817:
813:
810:
806:
798:
796:
794:
789:
787:
783:
779:
775:
771:
766:
764:
760:
757:
753:
749:
745:
725:
721:
711:
707:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
669:
667:
664:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
639:
638:
637:
636:
635:
628:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
614:
613:
612:
611:
604:
601:
599:
596:
594:
591:
589:
586:
584:
581:
579:
576:
574:
571:
569:
566:
564:
561:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
545:
544:
543:
542:
535:
532:
530:
527:
526:
525:
524:
523:
514:
511:
509:
506:
504:
501:
499:
496:
495:
494:
493:
489:
485:
482:
481:
480:
479:
475:
474:
473:
472:
470:
463:
460:
458:
455:
453:
450:
448:
445:
443:
440:
438:
435:
433:
430:
428:
425:
424:
423:
422:
420:
413:
412:2nd Marcellae
410:
408:
405:
403:
402:2nd Anchialus
400:
398:
395:
393:
392:1st Marcellae
390:
388:
387:1st Anchialus
385:
383:
380:
378:
375:
374:
373:
368:
363:
353:
348:
346:
341:
339:
334:
333:
330:
301:
273:
256:
240:
230:
226:
223:
222:
217:
213:
210:
209:
204:
201:
197:
194:
192:
190:
184:
180:
176:
172:
169:
168:
163:
160:
157:
155:
152:
151:
146:
138:
135:
132:
131:
126:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
78:
77:
74:July 29, 1014
73:
70:
69:
65:
61:
60:
53:
48:
45:
40:
35:
30:
19:
2443:
2439:
2407:
2376:
2358:
2350:
2341:, publ. in:
2337:
2328:
2322:
2307:
2303:
2285:
2280:
2264:
2260:
2238:
2223:
2219:
2205:
2191:
2187:
2180:
2176:
2169:
2165:
2149:
2145:
2131:
2127:
2113:
2095:
2056:
2041:
2037:
2021:
2016:
2001:
1996:
1992:
1988:
1976:
1972:
1968:
1960:
1956:
1937:
1933:
1925:
1921:
1913:
1909:
1893:
1889:
1871:
1867:
1858:
1854:
1844:
1831:. Retrieved
1827:the original
1813:
1806:
1798:
1794:
1790:
1782:
1778:
1770:
1766:
1758:
1754:
1746:
1742:
1738:
1730:
1726:
1718:
1714:
1706:
1702:
1694:
1690:
1671:
1663:
1659:
1655:
1647:
1643:
1635:
1631:
1612:
1579:
1571:
1556:
1552:
1544:
1540:
1532:
1528:
1520:
1516:
1508:
1504:
1496:
1492:
1484:
1480:
1472:
1468:
1459:
1455:
1451:
1443:
1439:
1430:
1423:
1415:
1411:
1403:
1399:
1391:
1387:
1379:
1375:
1367:
1363:
1355:
1351:
1343:
1339:
1331:
1327:
1323:
1315:
1311:
1303:
1299:
1291:
1287:
1279:
1275:
1267:
1263:
1255:
1251:
1234:Adriatic Sea
1211:
1207:
1179:
1162:Българоубиец
1145:
1126:
1108:cubicularius
1106:
1094:
1048:
1044:
1033:
1026:Thessalonika
1019:
999:
973:
955:Struma River
951:
864:
824:
802:
790:
767:
743:
719:
705:
703:
632:
631:
608:
607:
582:
539:
538:
520:
519:
490:
476:
471:'s campaigns
467:
466:
421:'s campaigns
417:
416:
371:
188:
148:Belligerents
57:
42:Part of the
29:
1989:Ostrogorsky
1833:January 28,
1795:Pirivatrich
1444:Ostrogorski
1429:G. Mitrev,
1368:Pirivatrich
1316:Pirivatrich
1292:Pirivatrich
1230:Peloponnese
1201:led by the
1040:defeat them
981:Dyrrhachium
666:Klokotnitsa
603:Dyrrhachium
397:Rishki Pass
120: /
2455:Categories
1993:Mutafchiev
1973:Stephenson
1894:Stephenson
1861:(3): 3–24.
1460:G. Nikolov
1256:Mutafchiev
1244:References
1197:until the
1129:Kekaumenos
1089:See also:
1022:Nestoritsa
1014:Rupel pass
934:See also:
848:Comitopuli
831:Sviatoslav
799:Background
691:Rusokastro
558:Spercheios
534:Dorostolon
503:Katasyrtai
442:Versinikia
372:Early wars
108:23°01′03″E
105:41°21′45″N
1977:Magdalino
1914:Zlatarski
1823:458819568
1747:Cholpanov
1731:Zlatarski
1664:Cholpanov
1648:Zlatarski
1545:Zlatarski
1473:Zlatarski
1404:Zlatarski
1332:Cholpanov
1238:Black Sea
1205:in 1185.
1168:Aftermath
1158:Bulgarian
1123:Prisoners
1055:Strumitsa
1035:strategos
965:Strumitsa
911:Macedonia
865:When the
850:brothers
782:Byzantine
774:Ograzhden
770:Belasitsa
588:Strumitsa
457:Mesembria
407:Litosoria
137:Byzantine
90:, modern
2405:(1876).
2366:Archived
2100:Archived
2075:Archived
2064:Archived
2057:Васильев
2049:Archived
2042:Vasiliev
2032:, p. 150
2006:Archived
1999:, Sima,
1997:Ćirković
1945:Archived
1938:Runciman
1879:Archived
1783:Gyuzelev
1679:Archived
1344:Gyuzelev
1280:Bozhilov
1268:Gyuzelev
1216:and the
1059:Mokrievo
1002:Komotini
979:port of
977:Adriatic
923:Basil II
907:Thessaly
870:Basil II
843:Boris II
825:In 968,
812:Asparukh
784:general
759:Basil II
750:and the
715:Κλειδίον
583:Kleidion
498:Achelous
469:Simeon I
462:Burdizon
437:Debeltos
206:Strength
171:Basil II
96:Bulgaria
79:Location
2326:, from
2022:Matanov
1961:Nikolov
1926:Whittow
1743:Angelov
1707:Zonaras
1660:Angelov
1521:Nikolov
1509:Zonaras
1485:Nikolov
1463:smaller
1456:Nikolov
1416:Nikolov
1356:Nikolov
1328:Angelov
1236:to the
986:Plovdiv
930:Prelude
887:Corinth
882:Fatimid
839:Preslav
805:Bulgars
731:
720:Clidium
686:Skafida
646:Tryavna
627:Ostrovo
427:Serdica
224:Unknown
214:Unknown
211:Unknown
189:†
139:victory
2415:
2383:
2314:
2292:
2271:
2246:
2230:
2212:
2198:
2160:(т. 2)
2156:
2138:
2120:
2028:
1983:
1904:, p. 4
1900:
1872:Holmes
1821:
1619:
1572:Cedrin
1222:Danube
1218:Croats
1113:Melnik
1097:Vardar
1071:Prespa
1067:Prilep
1032:, the
1010:Serres
996:Battle
990:Pliska
895:Moesia
835:Simeon
816:Danube
807:under
778:Klyuch
763:Samuel
724:Klyuch
681:Devina
656:Serres
641:Lovech
598:Setina
593:Bitola
563:Skopje
432:Pliska
185:
133:Result
88:Klyuch
2284:[
2061:том 1
1611:[
1214:Serbs
1150:Greek
1117:Sofia
1006:Drama
969:Ohrid
899:Vidin
860:Aaron
856:Moses
852:David
718:; or
710:Greek
661:Varna
573:Kreta
508:Pegae
382:Ongal
2413:ISBN
2381:ISBN
2312:ISBN
2290:ISBN
2269:ISBN
2244:ISBN
2240:век)
2228:ISBN
2210:ISBN
2196:ISBN
2154:ISBN
2136:ISBN
2118:ISBN
2026:ISBN
1981:ISBN
1898:ISBN
1835:2008
1819:OCLC
1617:ISBN
1185:and
1008:and
938:and
809:Khan
772:and
728:lit.
704:The
419:Krum
71:Date
1987:);
1578:'s
737:key
2457::
2444:83
2442:.
2438:.
2361:,
2259:,
2081:.)
2070:,
1940:,
1859:28
1745:/
1662:/
1599:^
1590:,
1586:,
1564:^
1330:/
1240:.
1160::
1156:,
1152::
1004:,
858:,
854:,
726:,
712::
94:,
2421:.
2306:(
2298:.
2263:(
2252:.
2222:(
2190:(
2179:(
2168:(
2148:(
2130:(
1837:.
1625:.
1148:(
740:'
734:'
708:(
351:e
344:t
337:v
62:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
