597:
657:. The ousting of the merchants from Constantinople, which was a major destination of trade routes from all over Europe and Asia, was a heavy blow for Bulgarian economic interests. The merchants complained to Simeon I, who in turn raised the issue with Leo VI, but the appeal was left unanswered. Simeon, who was seeking a pretext to declare war and begin implementing his plans, launched an invasion of Byzantine Thrace, resulting in what has sometimes been called the first commercial war in Europe.
685:
762:
42:
745:, while the people even appealed to his father Boris I, who had become a monk, to assume the command of the army. In the decisive battle the Magyars suffered a devastating defeat, but the victorious Bulgarians were themselves said to have lost 20,000 riders. That was the only victory on the battlefield Boris I ever achieved. As a result of this defeat, the Magyars had to move westwards and settle in
825:
The war ended with a peace treaty which formally lasted until around Leo VI's death in 912, and under which
Byzantium was obliged to pay Bulgaria an annual tribute in exchange for the return of allegedly 120,000 captured Byzantine soldiers and civilians. Under the treaty, the Byzantines also ceded an
633:
was to replace Greek as a language of the church and the
Byzantine clergy was to be banished and replaced with Bulgarians. The Council sealed Boris I's ambitions for cultural and religious independence and calmed down the concerns among the nobility, who feared any strong Byzantine influence in the
833:
Simeon I was content with the results and considered that he had superiority over the
Byzantine Empire. Despite the success, he realized that there was still a lot to do before prevailing over the Empire for good. He needed his own political and ideological base, and he consequently launched an
817:, Leo VI was desperate after the consecutive refusals of peace, and was forced to gather an army of Arab prisoners of war and send them against the Bulgarians with the promise of freedom. The Bulgarians were stopped just outside Constantinople and Simeon I agreed to negotiate.
841:
Simeon also learned the lesson of how vulnerable
Bulgaria was to the northern tribes neighbouring his realm, when they were influenced by Byzantine diplomacy. That experience paid off in 917, when Simeon managed to counter the Byzantine efforts to ally with the
621:, which marked the beginning of the creation and consolidation of the medieval Bulgarian literature and alphabet. Despite a number of military setbacks against most neighbouring countries, Boris I managed to preserve Bulgarian territorial integrity. During the
772:
When Simeon I returned to
Preslav "proud of the victory", he broke the negotiations with Choirosphaktes and once again invaded Byzantine Thrace, further encouraged by the death of the capable general Nikephoros Phokas. The Byzantines transferred "all
801:
Theodosius, the second-in-command of the army, while Leo
Katakalon managed to escape with a few other survivors. The Byzantine defeat was so grave that one of their soldiers retired from society and became an ascetic under the name of
740:
in
Preslav to negotiate the terms. As Simeon needed time to address the Magyar threat, he deliberately prolonged the negotiations and Choirosphaktes was repeatedly refused an audience. In the meantime Simeon allied with the
736:, and after they sold the captives to the Byzantines they retreated to the north of the Danube. Then Simeon pretended that he wanted to negotiate and put forward the issue of prisoner exchange. The Byzantines sent
653:, which meant that the Bulgarian merchants would have to pay higher taxes. That move affected not only private interests but also the international commercial importance of Bulgaria, regulated with the
712:, who in that time inhabited the steppes to the north-east of Bulgaria. When Simeon I refused to conclude peace and imprisoned the Byzantine envoy Konstantinakios, at the end of 894 the
787:
Leo
Katakalon, who lacked the ability of Phokas. The two armies clashed at Boulgarophygon in the summer of 896 and the Byzantines were thoroughly routed. A Byzantine historian wrote:
681:, the Byzantines were defeated and their commanders perished. Most of the Khazars were captured and Simeon had their noses cut and "sent them in the capital for shame of the Romans ".
176:
1329: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)
834:
ambitious construction program in
Preslav so that it could rival Constantinople. In the meanwhile, Simeon I had also imposed his authority over Serbia in return for recognizing
203:
1334:
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)
169:
1429:
1434:
288:
720:, despite the fact that the Bulgarians had barred the river with chains and ropes. Simeon I, who was at the Byzantine-Bulgarian border facing the general
665:
The Byzantines hastily assembled a large army under the generals Prokopios Krenites and Kourtikios, which included the Imperial Guard that consisted of
162:
1357:
1135:
According to Zlatarski, Simeon I retired without fighting the Arabs, because otherwise al-Tabari would have noted the event. See Zlatarski, p. 317
645:(r. 886–912) soon had a chance to retaliate. Some members of the Byzantine court had an interest in moving the market of the Bulgarian goods from
580:
against the Byzantine Empire. Simeon would go on to inflict a number of defeats on the Byzantines in pursuit of his ultimate goal, the throne in
576:, who acted as Byzantine allies, the battle of Boulgarophygon proved to be the first decisive victory of the young and ambitious Bulgarian ruler
1375:
938:"Selections on Byzantium. Selections from the Chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes, translated and adapted from B. Flusin and J.-C. Cheynet (2003)"
937:
566:
318:
304:
33:
1439:
1419:
1244:
750:
654:
348:
634:
internal affairs of Bulgaria. It was also decided that his third son Simeon, born after the Christianization and called
1314:
1220:
448:
1424:
1358:"The Size of Bulgaria's Medieval Field Armies: A Case Study of Military Mobilization Capacity in the Middle Ages"
1306:
367:
339:
641:
These events ruined the Byzantine hopes to exert influence over the newly Christianized country, and Emperor
596:
477:
443:
404:
394:
374:
278:
814:
614:
429:
379:
355:
186:
721:
497:
838:
as its ruler. That was an important move towards reducing Byzantine influence over the Western Balkans.
774:
618:
584:. The peace treaty that was signed as a result of the battle confirmed the Bulgarian domination in the
565:. The result was an annihilation of the Byzantine army which determined the Bulgarian victory in the
273:
228:
223:
218:
213:
854:, where the Byzantines were soundly defeated in one of the biggest disasters in Byzantine history.
851:
436:
324:
28:
941:
1414:
784:
600:
The Bulgarians defeat the Byzantines under Krenites and Kourtikios in Thrace, miniature from the
542:
460:
419:
830:
to the Bulgarian Empire, while the Bulgarians also promised not to invade Byzantine territory.
562:
253:
101:
809:
Gaining the upper hand, Simeon I led the Bulgarian troops to Constantinople, burning villages
724:, had to march northwards to confront them. His army was defeated by the Magyars somewhere in
1281:
492:
487:
783:", i. e. all forces that were fighting the Arabs, to Europe. The army was commanded by the
626:
577:
517:
384:
329:
295:
268:
118:
8:
705:
630:
610:
360:
283:
238:
233:
835:
737:
622:
534:
502:
414:
409:
1337:
1310:
1285:
1240:
1230:
1216:
670:
512:
472:
453:
263:
803:
779:
732:. The Magyars looted and pillaged unopposed, reaching the outskirts of the capital
602:
558:
507:
482:
424:
389:
258:
106:
48:
1263:
1234:
797:
642:
467:
399:
334:
208:
1271:
1267:
791:...the Romans were decisively defeated all down the line and they all perished.
713:
674:
646:
581:
1327:
1408:
1390:
1377:
765:
The Bulgarians rout the Byzantine army at Boulgarophygon, miniature from the
684:
46:
The Bulgarians rout the Byzantine army at Boulgarophygon, miniature from the
1341:
1444:
650:
154:
1289:
549:) was fought in the summer of 896 near the town of Boulgarophygon (modern
1302:
625:
in 893, assembled after the unsuccessful attempt of Boris I's eldest son
847:
827:
742:
700:
Since the main Byzantine forces were engaged in the east against the
746:
729:
689:
550:
72:
733:
725:
709:
666:
585:
573:
761:
41:
1277:
717:
678:
554:
76:
696:
note that the Magyars are named above the army Tourkoi (Turks)
16:
896 conflict between the Byzantine and First Bulgarian empires
843:
701:
245:
572:
Despite the initial difficulties in the war against the
728:
and Simeon himself had to flee to the strong fortress
613:(r. 852–889), Bulgaria underwent major changes – the
1236:
The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe, 500-1453
1210:
1122:
1120:
1253:
1117:
1406:
704:, Leo VI turned to the well-tried methods of
638:, was to become the next Prince of Bulgaria.
170:
1430:Battles involving the First Bulgarian Empire
184:
1258:(in Bulgarian). Sofia: Voenno Izdatelstvo.
669:mercenaries. In the ensuing battle in the
177:
163:
1325:
1229:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1040:
1038:
716:was used to ferry the Magyars across the
629:to restore Paganism, it was decided that
1355:
1262:
1215:(in Bulgarian). Veliko Tarnovo: Abagar.
1110:
1108:
1106:
1104:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
850:, and forced them to fight alone in the
760:
683:
595:
1435:Battles of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars
1296:
1273:A History of the First Bulgarian Empire
1211:Andreev, Jordan; Milcho Lalkov (1996).
915:
913:
911:
708:and sent envoys with rich gifts to the
1407:
1065:
1035:
660:
617:and the admission of the disciples of
1101:
1001:
158:
1254:Peychev, Atanas; collective (1984).
908:
813:. According to the Muslim historian
935:
931:
929:
927:
925:
749:, where they later established the
13:
1349:
1299:The Making of Byzantium (600–1025)
14:
1456:
1356:Stoyanov, Aleksandr (July 2019).
655:Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty of 716
349:Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria
1336:]. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo.
922:
40:
1192:
1183:
1174:
1165:
1156:
1147:
1138:
1129:
1092:
1083:
1056:
1047:
1026:
1017:
992:
983:
974:
826:area between the Black Sea and
688:The Magyars pursue Simeon I to
615:Christianization of the country
1440:History of Kırklareli Province
1307:University of California Press
965:
956:
899:
890:
881:
872:
863:
368:Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
1:
1213:The Bulgarian Khans and Tsars
795:Among the casualties was the
591:
1420:890s in the Byzantine Empire
857:
820:
7:
1362:Journal of Military History
10:
1461:
1326:Zlatarski, Vasil (1971) .
1204:
619:Saints Cyril and Methodius
546:
756:
538:
196:
140:
127:
112:
95:
55:
39:
26:
21:
531:Battle of Boulgarophygon
437:Uprising of Peter Delyan
188:Byzantine–Bulgarian wars
29:Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
22:Battle of Boulgarophygon
1425:9th century in Bulgaria
785:Domestic of the Schools
461:Second Bulgarian Empire
1297:Whittow, Mark (1996).
1282:George Bell & Sons
1162:Zlatarski, pp. 318–321
1053:Zlatarski, pp. 300–301
1023:Zlatarski, pp. 293–294
887:Zlatarski, pp. 261–262
878:Zlatarski, pp. 271–273
793:
769:
697:
606:
563:First Bulgarian Empire
547:Μάχη του Βουλγαρόφυγου
539:Битка при Булгарофигон
149:Almost the entire army
113:Commanders and leaders
789:
764:
692:, miniature from the
687:
599:
141:Casualties and losses
1239:. London: Cardinal.
567:trade war of 894–896
119:Simeon I of Bulgaria
1387: /
1256:1300 Years On Guard
1198:Andreev, pp. 99–100
869:Andreev, pp. 73, 75
706:Byzantine diplomacy
677:), probably around
661:Magyar intervention
609:During the rule of
1231:Obolensky, Dimitri
1171:Andreev, pp. 94–95
989:Andreev, pp. 92–93
852:battle of Achelous
770:
751:Kingdom of Hungary
738:Leo Choirosphaktes
698:
671:Theme of Macedonia
623:Council of Preslav
607:
503:Uprising of Ivaylo
340:3rd Constantinople
279:2nd Constantinople
204:1st Constantinople
1391:41.433°N 27.100°E
1246:978-0-351-17644-9
1153:Treadgold, p. 464
1126:Zlatarski, p. 317
1098:Obolensky, p. 106
1062:Zlatarski, p. 301
1032:Zlatarski, p. 292
998:Zlatarski, p. 289
980:Obolensky, p. 105
971:Zlatarski, p. 286
722:Nikephoros Phokas
526:
525:
153:
152:
91:
90:
87:Bulgarian victory
1452:
1402:
1401:
1399:
1398:
1397:
1392:
1388:
1385:
1384:
1383:
1380:
1369:
1345:
1320:
1293:
1268:"The Two Eagles"
1264:Runciman, Steven
1259:
1250:
1226:
1199:
1196:
1190:
1187:
1181:
1178:
1172:
1169:
1163:
1160:
1154:
1151:
1145:
1144:Runciman, p. 148
1142:
1136:
1133:
1127:
1124:
1115:
1112:
1099:
1096:
1090:
1087:
1081:
1080:Runciman, p. 147
1078:
1063:
1060:
1054:
1051:
1045:
1044:Runciman, p. 146
1042:
1033:
1030:
1024:
1021:
1015:
1012:
999:
996:
990:
987:
981:
978:
972:
969:
963:
962:Runciman, p. 144
960:
954:
953:
951:
949:
940:. Archived from
933:
920:
917:
906:
903:
897:
894:
888:
885:
879:
876:
870:
867:
836:Petar Gojniković
804:Luke the Stylite
767:Madrid Skylitzes
694:Madrid Skylitzes
603:Madrid Skylitzes
559:Byzantine Empire
548:
540:
478:2nd Arcadiopolis
449:5th Thessalonica
444:4th Thessalonica
405:3rd Thessalonica
395:2nd Thessalonica
380:1st Thessalonica
356:1st Arcadiopolis
191:
189:
179:
172:
165:
156:
155:
107:Byzantine Empire
102:Bulgarian Empire
57:
56:
49:Madrid Skylitzes
44:
19:
18:
1460:
1459:
1455:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1450:
1449:
1405:
1404:
1395:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1374:
1373:
1352:
1350:Further reading
1317:
1247:
1223:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1193:
1189:Whittow, p. 287
1188:
1184:
1179:
1175:
1170:
1166:
1161:
1157:
1152:
1148:
1143:
1139:
1134:
1130:
1125:
1118:
1113:
1102:
1097:
1093:
1088:
1084:
1079:
1066:
1061:
1057:
1052:
1048:
1043:
1036:
1031:
1027:
1022:
1018:
1013:
1002:
997:
993:
988:
984:
979:
975:
970:
966:
961:
957:
947:
945:
944:on 27 July 2012
934:
923:
918:
909:
904:
900:
895:
891:
886:
882:
877:
873:
868:
864:
860:
823:
798:protovestiarios
759:
663:
627:Vladimir-Rasate
594:
527:
522:
192:
187:
185:
183:
79:
45:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1458:
1448:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1415:890s conflicts
1396:41.433; 27.100
1371:
1370:
1351:
1348:
1347:
1346:
1322:
1321:
1315:
1294:
1260:
1251:
1245:
1227:
1221:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1200:
1191:
1182:
1173:
1164:
1155:
1146:
1137:
1128:
1116:
1114:Andreev, p. 94
1100:
1091:
1089:Andreev, p. 86
1082:
1064:
1055:
1046:
1034:
1025:
1016:
1014:Andreev, p. 93
1000:
991:
982:
973:
964:
955:
936:Mladjov, Ian.
921:
919:Andreev, p. 92
907:
905:Andreev, p. 91
898:
896:Andreev, p. 87
889:
880:
871:
861:
859:
856:
822:
819:
758:
755:
714:Byzantine navy
675:Eastern Thrace
662:
659:
647:Constantinople
636:child of peace
593:
590:
582:Constantinople
557:) between the
543:Medieval Greek
524:
523:
521:
520:
515:
510:
505:
500:
498:2nd Adrianople
495:
490:
485:
480:
475:
470:
457:
456:
451:
446:
433:
432:
427:
422:
417:
412:
407:
402:
397:
392:
387:
382:
377:
375:Trajan's Gates
364:
363:
358:
345:
344:
343:
342:
337:
332:
327:
319:War of 913–927
315:
314:
313:
311:Boulgarophygon
305:War of 894–896
292:
291:
286:
281:
276:
274:1st Adrianople
271:
266:
261:
256:
242:
241:
236:
231:
226:
221:
216:
211:
206:
197:
194:
193:
182:
181:
174:
167:
159:
151:
150:
147:
143:
142:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
125:
124:
121:
115:
114:
110:
109:
104:
98:
97:
93:
92:
89:
88:
85:
81:
80:
73:Boulgarophygon
71:
69:
65:
64:
61:
53:
52:
37:
36:
34:War of 894–896
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1457:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1403:
1400:
1368:(3): 719–746.
1367:
1363:
1359:
1354:
1353:
1343:
1339:
1335:
1331:
1330:
1324:
1323:
1318:
1316:0-520-20497-2
1312:
1308:
1304:
1300:
1295:
1291:
1287:
1283:
1279:
1275:
1274:
1269:
1265:
1261:
1257:
1252:
1248:
1242:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1228:
1224:
1222:954-427-216-X
1218:
1214:
1209:
1208:
1195:
1186:
1177:
1168:
1159:
1150:
1141:
1132:
1123:
1121:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1105:
1095:
1086:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1069:
1059:
1050:
1041:
1039:
1029:
1020:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
995:
986:
977:
968:
959:
943:
939:
932:
930:
928:
926:
916:
914:
912:
902:
893:
884:
875:
866:
862:
855:
853:
849:
845:
839:
837:
831:
829:
818:
816:
812:
807:
805:
800:
799:
792:
788:
786:
782:
781:
776:
768:
763:
754:
752:
748:
744:
739:
735:
731:
727:
723:
719:
715:
711:
707:
703:
695:
691:
686:
682:
680:
676:
672:
668:
658:
656:
652:
648:
644:
639:
637:
632:
631:Old Bulgarian
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
605:
604:
598:
589:
587:
583:
579:
575:
570:
568:
564:
560:
556:
552:
544:
536:
532:
519:
516:
514:
511:
509:
506:
504:
501:
499:
496:
494:
491:
489:
486:
484:
481:
479:
476:
474:
471:
469:
466:
465:
464:
463:
462:
455:
452:
450:
447:
445:
442:
441:
440:
439:
438:
431:
428:
426:
423:
421:
418:
416:
413:
411:
408:
406:
403:
401:
398:
396:
393:
391:
388:
386:
383:
381:
378:
376:
373:
372:
371:
370:
369:
362:
359:
357:
354:
353:
352:
351:
350:
341:
338:
336:
333:
331:
328:
326:
323:
322:
321:
320:
316:
312:
309:
308:
307:
306:
302:
301:
300:
299:
297:
290:
287:
285:
282:
280:
277:
275:
272:
270:
267:
265:
262:
260:
257:
255:
252:
251:
250:
249:
247:
240:
239:2nd Marcellae
237:
235:
232:
230:
229:2nd Anchialus
227:
225:
222:
220:
219:1st Marcellae
217:
215:
214:1st Anchialus
212:
210:
207:
205:
202:
201:
200:
195:
190:
180:
175:
173:
168:
166:
161:
160:
157:
148:
145:
144:
139:
135:
132:
131:
126:
123:Leo Katakalon
122:
120:
117:
116:
111:
108:
105:
103:
100:
99:
94:
86:
83:
82:
78:
74:
70:
67:
66:
63:Summer of 896
62:
59:
58:
54:
51:
50:
43:
38:
35:
30:
25:
20:
1372:
1365:
1361:
1333:
1328:
1298:
1272:
1255:
1235:
1212:
1194:
1185:
1180:Fine, p. 141
1176:
1167:
1158:
1149:
1140:
1131:
1094:
1085:
1058:
1049:
1028:
1019:
994:
985:
976:
967:
958:
946:. Retrieved
942:the original
901:
892:
883:
874:
865:
840:
832:
824:
810:
808:
796:
794:
790:
778:
771:
766:
699:
693:
664:
651:Thessaloniki
640:
635:
608:
601:
571:
530:
528:
459:
458:
435:
434:
366:
365:
347:
346:
317:
310:
303:
298:'s campaigns
294:
293:
248:'s campaigns
244:
243:
198:
96:Belligerents
47:
27:Part of the
1394: /
1303:Los Angeles
493:Klokotnitsa
430:Dyrrhachium
224:Rishki Pass
1409:Categories
679:Adrianople
592:Background
518:Rusokastro
385:Spercheios
361:Dorostolon
330:Katasyrtai
269:Versinikia
199:Early wars
1233:(1974) .
858:Footnotes
848:Pechenegs
828:Strandzha
821:Aftermath
815:al-Tabari
743:Pechenegs
535:Bulgarian
415:Strumitsa
284:Mesembria
234:Litosoria
1342:67080314
1266:(1930).
948:21 March
811:en route
747:Pannonia
673:(modern
578:Simeon I
561:and the
551:Babaeski
410:Kleidion
325:Achelous
296:Simeon I
289:Burdizon
264:Debeltos
128:Strength
68:Location
1382:27°06′E
1379:41°26′N
1205:Sources
846:or the
780:tagmata
734:Preslav
730:Drastar
726:Dobruja
710:Magyars
690:Drastar
611:Boris I
586:Balkans
574:Magyars
513:Skafida
473:Tryavna
454:Ostrovo
254:Serdica
136:Unknown
133:Unknown
1340:
1313:
1290:832687
1288:
1278:London
1243:
1219:
775:themes
757:Battle
718:Danube
667:Khazar
643:Leo VI
555:Turkey
508:Devina
483:Serres
468:Lovech
425:Setina
420:Bitola
390:Skopje
259:Pliska
84:Result
77:Thrace
1332:[
844:Serbs
702:Arabs
488:Varna
400:Kreta
335:Pegae
209:Ongal
146:Light
1338:OCLC
1311:ISBN
1286:OCLC
1241:ISBN
1217:ISBN
950:2011
777:and
529:The
246:Krum
60:Date
1445:896
649:to
1411::
1366:83
1364:.
1360:.
1309:.
1305::
1301:.
1284:.
1280::
1276:.
1270:.
1119:^
1103:^
1067:^
1037:^
1003:^
924:^
910:^
806:.
753:.
588:.
569:.
553:,
545::
541:;
537::
75:,
1344:.
1319:.
1292:.
1249:.
1225:.
952:.
533:(
178:e
171:t
164:v
31::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
