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skirmishes. As the
Byzantine–Turkish force advanced towards the defenders, Momchil led his troops ahead into battle. His cavalry was promptly eliminated by Turkish sharpshooters and his remaining troops were surrounded on three sides by heavily armed horsemen. Momchil's remaining men continued the fight on foot and for the most part did not surrender until Momchil himself perished.
324:(r. 1328–1341) as a mercenary and tasked with the protection of the territories he previously plundered. However, his brigand activities did not cease. Momchil regularly raided Bulgarian lands, which negatively impacted Byzantine–Bulgarian relations. Undesired by the Byzantines and "detestable to the Bulgarians", he deserted the Byzantine army and fled to Serbia to serve its ruler
506:, another legendary figure who in epic poetry is a fighter against the Turks. In the folklore version of Momchil's last battle, Vidosava, his wife, and not the citizens of Peritheorion, betrays him and is to blame for his death. On the other hand, Momchil's legendary sister Yevrosima is described as the mother of Prince Marko as well as a major influence on him.
472:
on 7 July 1345. Momchil tried to seek refuge behind the city's walls — scholars debate whether he actually held the city or not — but they were shut against him and his men by the locals. The locals did let in
Momchil's cousin Rayko along with 50 men, which they hoped would persuade Momchil
401:
with only 60 horsemen to protect him. The
Byzantines were thoroughly routed: Kantakouzenos' horse was killed and he received a powerful hit to the head, which he survived thanks to his helmet. Momchil captured many of Kantakouzenos' men, but the claimant to the throne himself managed to escape in the
484:
Out of respect for
Momchil, Kantakouzenos spared his wife, a Bulgarian woman he had captured during his conquest of Xanthi. He allowed her to flee to Bulgaria along with all of her property. However, it is unknown whether Momchil had any children from this marriage or a previous one, if any. Pavlov
480:
After the foremost
Turkish troops crossed the fortifications and dealt with the Bulgarian defenders, they began plundering the vicinity. However, to the surprise of Kantakouzenos and Umur Bey, the majority of Momchil's men were standing in front of the city walls and had not yet participated in the
497:
In
Bulgarian and South Slavic folklore in general, Momchil is glorified in numerous songs and epic tales as a brigand, defender of the people and a prominent fighter against the Turks. Indeed, some of the earliest heroic songs in Bulgarian folklore tradition deal with Momchil's exploits. In some
351:
plagued by nomadic Slavic brigands. In the words of
Kantakouzenos himself, the appointment was because " was of the same race these nomads would be favourably disposed toward him, but also because he was not lacking in courage and boldness in battle and was a first-rate expert in robbery and
430:
In the summer of 1344, Momchil finally broke with both parties and seceded from the
Byzantine Empire. He proclaimed himself an independent ruler in the Rhodopes and the Aegean coast, "capturing cities and villages and appearing all-powerful and invincible". With his army he captured
405:
Soon, however, Momchil sent messages to
Kantakouzenos asking for forgiveness. The latter, loath to alienate Momchil and open another front in his rear, pardoned him in exchange for promises of future good conduct, and even awarded him the title of
352:
plunder." As the governor of Merope, Momchil gathered of an army of 300 cavalry and 5,000 infantry from different nationalities. Though he considered himself able to "set against any side in the
Byzantine war", along with
339:(r. 1341–1354), who had perhaps known Momchil during his flight to Serbia in 1342, at the beginning of the war. In 1343, as per the wishes of the local population, Kantakouzenos gave Momchil governance of the region of
259:. Despite this, he was defeated and killed by a joint Byzantine–Turkish army in 1345. Due to his opposition to the Turks, he is remembered in popular South Slavic legend as a fighter against the Turkish invasion of the
291:
registers, according to which his name was the most popular male name in that area. There exist at least a few legends which tie his birth to a particular place, for example the village of
397:(also known as Burugrad), and plundered several cities in the area that refused to surrender. Afterwards, Momchil along with 1,000 horsemen attacked Kantakouzenos, who had set camp near
359:
279:
Contemporary and near-contemporary accounts describe Momchil physically as "imposing in appearance", "as tall as two men" and, in the words of a Turkish poet, "resembling a
449:, marched against Momchil. Momchil tried to prevent this by asking again for pardon and offering to submit to Kantakouzenos, but the emperor refused to heed him.
670:
Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994), The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, University of Michigan Press,
1162:
283:". According to a contemporary source, Momchil was a native of the "border area of Bulgarians and Serbs", which at the time straddled the Rhodopes and the
477:
before the city walls, Momchil's forces used the Peritheorion's ruined old fortifications as a first line of defence, with the city walls behind them.
299:, though evidence is nonexistent. In any case, Momchil was born of humble origin. This was a main factor in his decision to join a band of brigands (
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1122:
452:
320:
Persecuted by the Bulgarian authorities, some time before 1341 Momchil fled to Byzantium. He was accepted into the service of Emperor
526:
442:(r. 1331–1371), with whom he shared a lengthy border, and believes the two may have acted in co-ordination against the Byzantines.
435:, which became the capital of his domain. Bulgarian historian Plamen Pavlov theorises that Momchil was in friendly relations with
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Pjesme junačke srednijijeh vremena. Srpske narodne pjesme, Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, R. Aleksić, Prosveta, 1958, str. 597.
255:
and Byzantines alike, setting Turkish ships on fire and almost managing to kill one of his main opponents at the time,
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and sank three of them. He then overcame another Turkish force that arrived to exact retribution near the fortress of
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654:
Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991), "Momčilo", Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, pp. 1390–1391,
609:Постојао је један Момчило, Бугарин по рођењу, велики насилник у доба Душаново, одметник и од Срба и од Византинаца.
619:Život epske pesme: Ženidba kralja Vukašina u krugu varijanata, Lidija Delić, Zavod za udžbenike, 2000, str. 93:
595:
Vizantijski izvori za istoriju naroda Jugoslavije, ISSN 0584-987X, Franjo Barišić, Naučna knjiga, 1986, str. 454:
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In late spring 1345 however, Kantakouzenos, reinforced with allegedly 20,000 troops from Aydin under their ruler
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412:. Momchil nevertheless continued to entertain parallel ties with the regency, and even secured the title of
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The Balkans and Anatolia in 1340. Momchil was active in the area where Byzantium, Serbia and Bulgaria met.
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regency, and persuaded to turn against him. Thinking that Kantakouzenos and his Turkish allies from the
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439:
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321:
236:, Momchil was recruited by the Byzantines as a mercenary. Through his opportunistic involvement in the
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597:Полазећи од вести Јована Кантакузина, историчари су без резерве прихватали да је Момчило био Бугарин.
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621:Незнатног рода и вероватно пореклом Бугарин, рано је почео хајдуковати на српско-бугарској граници.
998:
The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest
1157:
306:
225:
1039:
644:...p. 45. The historical Momcilo, a Bulgarian, who was somewhere between an outlaw and a lord...
631:
Prince Marko: The Hero of South Slavic Epics, Tanya Popovic, Syracuse University Press, 1988,
530:
474:
240:, where he played the various sides against each other, he became ruler of a large area in the
169:
1057:
The Serbs and Byzantium during the Reign of Tsar Stephen Dušan (1331–1355) and his Successors
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256:
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mountains. The claim that Momchil was born in that region may be reinforced by 15th-century
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8:
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presents the hypothesis that Momchil's wife was a noblewoman from the Bulgarian capital
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brigand and local ruler. Initially a member of a bandit gang in the borderlands of
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356:'s Turkish forces he nevertheless assisted Kantakouzenos in his campaigns in 1344.
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At the time, Momchil was approached by agents of Kantakouzenos' opponents, the
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not to take vengeance on the city if he defeated his opponents. In the
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Bulgarian folklore, folk beliefs, customs, folksongs, personal names
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1042:[The Rhodopean hero Momchil and Tsar Ivan Alexander].
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are named after Momchil. His life served as the basis for an
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284:
557:, which tells a largely fictionalised version of his story.
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958:] (in Bulgarian). София: ДИ „ Септември“. p. 1.
972:Андреев, Йордан; Лазаров, Иван; Павлов, Пламен (1999).
549:. Momchil's biography also inspired a 1988 children's
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950:Костадинов, Костадин; Георгиев, Константин (1988).
949:
425:
924:
851:
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641:...it is generally accepted he was a Bulgarian...
1094:
464:, site of Momchil's last stand and death in 1345
1024:, Oxford University Press, pp. 1390–1391,
389:, he attacked a Turkish fleet of 15 ships near
1044:Бунтари и авантюристи в средновековна България
1040:"Родопският юнак Момчил и цар Иван Александър"
846:
706:
267:Brigandage and role in the Byzantine civil war
1163:Bulgarian military personnel killed in action
892:. Syracuse University Press. pp. 24–26.
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498:folklore material, Momchil, referred to as a
890:Prince Marko: the hero of South Slavic epics
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1055:Soulis, George Christos (1984), "Momčilo",
925:Панайотов, Филип; Николова, Иванка (1999).
251:Momchil achieved initial successes against
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929:(in Bulgarian). София: Труд. p. 744.
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1048:Rebels and Venturers in Medieval Bulgaria
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220: – 7 July 1345) was a 14th-century
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1050:] (in Bulgarian). Varna: LiterNet.
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913:SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica
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1118:Medieval Bulgarian military personnel
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994:
456:Fortifications at Peritheorion near
980:] (in Bulgarian). Петър Берон.
13:
974:Кой кой е в средновековна България
545:and written by Bulgarian composer
14:
1194:
1123:Medieval Serbian military leaders
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1086:, Dusko Lopandic, No 3114, 2011
1001:, University of Michigan Press,
333:Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
238:Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
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995:Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994),
978:Who is Who in Medieval Bulgaria
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426:Ruler in the Rhodopes and death
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1143:People from the Serbian Empire
1021:Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
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712:Андреев (1999), pp. 282–283
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799:Soulis (1984), pp. 149–150
322:Andronikos III Palaiologos
1018:, ed. (1991), "Momčilo",
927:България: 20 век. Алманах
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468:The two armies met near
80:Brigand, military leader
1038:Павлов, Пламен (2005).
888:Popović, Tanya (1988).
843:Kazhdan (1991), p. 1391
726:Kazhdan (1991), p. 1390
502:, acts as the uncle of
203:Μομτζίλος or Μομιτζίλας
37:Monument to Momchil in
1183:Boyars of Stefan Dušan
790:Андреев (1999), p. 284
756:Андреев (1999), p. 283
687:Андреев (1999), p. 282
586:Soulis (1984), p. 259.
577:Андреев (1999), p. 286
531:South Shetland Islands
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1178:14th-century soldiers
1128:Byzantine mercenaries
1084:Who was Duke Momcilo?
952:Властелинът на Меропа
822:Soulis (1984), p. 150
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337:John VI Kantakouzenos
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257:John VI Kantakouzenos
151:Years of service
1168:Medieval mercenaries
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1133:Byzantine governors
1108:14th-century births
781:Fine (1994), p. 304
765:Fine (1994), p. 303
513:and the village of
364:Momchilo's Fortress
165:Byzantine civil war
1016:Kazhdan, Alexander
956:The Lord of Merope
555:The Lord of Merope
493:In popular culture
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379:Constantinopolitan
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1153:Rhodope Mountains
1031:978-0-19-504652-6
1008:978-0-472-08260-5
987:978-954-402-047-7
936:978-954-528-146-4
899:978-0-8156-2444-8
676:978-0-472-08260-5
660:978-0-19-504652-6
475:subsequent battle
437:Bulgarian emperor
418:from the Empress
345:Rhodope Mountains
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331:During the
218: 1305
66:7 July 1345
57: 1305
39:Momchilgrad
1097:Categories
637:0815624441
561:References
551:comic book
535:Antarctica
391:Portolagos
118:Allegiance
639:, p. 25:
402:turmoil.
311:Byzantium
297:Strandzha
230:Byzantium
222:Bulgarian
191:Bulgarian
154:1341–1344
519:Bulgaria
458:Amaxades
447:Umur Bey
415:despotes
399:Komotini
354:Umur Bey
307:Bulgaria
242:Rhodopes
226:Bulgaria
43:Bulgaria
966:Sources
875:1676529
543:Momchil
529:of the
487:Tarnovo
343:in the
302:hajduks
289:Ottoman
281:minaret
261:Balkans
207:Serbian
187:Momchil
90:Rhodope
25:Momchil
1067:
1028:
1005:
984:
933:
896:
873:
674:
658:
635:
462:Greece
433:Xanthi
387:Thrace
372:Serbia
341:Merope
315:Serbia
246:Thrace
234:Serbia
195:Момчил
145:Empire
127:
1046:[
976:[
954:[
539:opera
368:Pirot
293:Fakia
285:Pirin
253:Turks
199:Greek
97:Title
1065:ISBN
1026:ISBN
1003:ISBN
982:ISBN
931:ISBN
894:ISBN
871:OCLC
672:ISBN
656:ISBN
633:ISBN
500:duke
313:and
232:and
63:Died
50:Born
533:in
525:on
366:in
295:in
1099::
1059:,
848:^
836:^
813:^
770:^
747:^
731:^
717:^
692:^
568:^
553:,
422:.
370:,
317:.
309:,
263:.
248:.
228:,
215:c.
213:;
209::
205:,
201::
197:,
193::
54:c.
41:,
990:.
939:.
902:.
877:.
189:(
172:†
143:/
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