608:
668:. 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.
696:
773:
53:
756:, 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
836:
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
644:
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
844:
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
828:, 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.
852:
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
632:, 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
783:
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
812:
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
751:
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
747:, 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
664:, 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
723:, 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
798:
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:
692:, 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 ".
187:
1340: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)
845:
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
214:
1345:
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)
180:
1440:
1445:
299:
731:, 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
676:
The Byzantines hastily assembled a large army under the generals Prokopios Krenites and Kourtikios, which included the Imperial Guard that consisted of
173:
1368:
1146:
According to Zlatarski, Simeon I retired without fighting the Arabs, because otherwise al-Tabari would have noted the event. See Zlatarski, p. 317
656:(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
591:
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
587:, who acted as Byzantine allies, the battle of Boulgarophygon proved to be the first decisive victory of the young and ambitious Bulgarian ruler
1386:
949:"Selections on Byzantium. Selections from the Chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes, translated and adapted from B. Flusin and J.-C. Cheynet (2003)"
948:
577:
329:
315:
44:
1450:
17:
1430:
1255:
761:
665:
359:
645:
internal affairs of Bulgaria. It was also decided that his third son Simeon, born after the Christianization and called
1325:
1231:
459:
1435:
1369:"The Size of Bulgaria's Medieval Field Armies: A Case Study of Military Mobilization Capacity in the Middle Ages"
1317:
378:
350:
652:
These events ruined the Byzantine hopes to exert influence over the newly Christianized country, and Emperor
607:
488:
454:
415:
405:
385:
289:
825:
625:
440:
390:
366:
197:
732:
508:
849:
as its ruler. That was an important move towards reducing Byzantine influence over the Western Balkans.
785:
629:
595:. The peace treaty that was signed as a result of the battle confirmed the Bulgarian domination in the
576:. The result was an annihilation of the Byzantine army which determined the Bulgarian victory in the
284:
239:
234:
229:
224:
865:, where the Byzantines were soundly defeated in one of the biggest disasters in Byzantine history.
862:
447:
335:
39:
952:
1425:
795:
611:
The Bulgarians defeat the Byzantines under Krenites and Kourtikios in Thrace, miniature from the
553:
471:
430:
841:
to the Bulgarian Empire, while the Bulgarians also promised not to invade Byzantine territory.
573:
264:
112:
820:
Gaining the upper hand, Simeon I led the Bulgarian troops to Constantinople, burning villages
735:, had to march northwards to confront them. His army was defeated by the Magyars somewhere in
1292:
503:
498:
794:", i. e. all forces that were fighting the Arabs, to Europe. The army was commanded by the
637:
588:
528:
395:
340:
306:
279:
129:
8:
716:
641:
621:
371:
294:
249:
244:
846:
748:
633:
545:
513:
425:
420:
1348:
1321:
1296:
1251:
1241:
1227:
681:
523:
483:
464:
274:
814:
790:
743:. The Magyars looted and pillaged unopposed, reaching the outskirts of the capital
613:
569:
518:
493:
435:
400:
269:
117:
59:
1274:
1245:
808:
653:
478:
410:
345:
219:
1282:
1278:
802:...the Romans were decisively defeated all down the line and they all perished.
724:
685:
657:
592:
1338:
1419:
1401:
1388:
776:
The Bulgarians rout the Byzantine army at Boulgarophygon, miniature from the
695:
57:
The Bulgarians rout the Byzantine army at Boulgarophygon, miniature from the
1352:
1455:
661:
165:
1300:
560:) was fought in the summer of 896 near the town of Boulgarophygon (modern
1313:
636:
in 893, assembled after the unsuccessful attempt of Boris I's eldest son
858:
838:
753:
711:
Since the main Byzantine forces were engaged in the east against the
757:
740:
700:
561:
83:
744:
736:
720:
677:
596:
584:
772:
52:
1288:
728:
689:
565:
87:
707:
note that the Magyars are named above the army Tourkoi (Turks)
27:
896 conflict between the Byzantine and First Bulgarian empires
854:
712:
256:
583:
Despite the initial difficulties in the war against the
739:
and Simeon himself had to flee to the strong fortress
624:(r. 852–889), Bulgaria underwent major changes – the
1247:
The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe, 500-1453
1221:
1133:
1131:
1264:
1128:
1417:
715:, Leo VI turned to the well-tried methods of
649:, was to become the next Prince of Bulgaria.
181:
1441:Battles involving the First Bulgarian Empire
195:
1269:(in Bulgarian). Sofia: Voenno Izdatelstvo.
680:mercenaries. In the ensuing battle in the
188:
174:
1336:
1240:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1051:
1049:
727:was used to ferry the Magyars across the
640:to restore Paganism, it was decided that
1366:
1273:
1226:(in Bulgarian). Veliko Tarnovo: Abagar.
1121:
1119:
1117:
1115:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
861:, and forced them to fight alone in the
771:
694:
606:
1446:Battles of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars
1307:
1284:A History of the First Bulgarian Empire
1222:Andreev, Jordan; Milcho Lalkov (1996).
926:
924:
922:
719:and sent envoys with rich gifts to the
14:
1418:
1076:
1046:
671:
628:and the admission of the disciples of
1112:
1012:
169:
1265:Peychev, Atanas; collective (1984).
919:
824:. According to the Muslim historian
946:
942:
940:
938:
936:
760:, where they later established the
24:
1360:
1310:The Making of Byzantium (600–1025)
25:
1467:
1367:Stoyanov, Aleksandr (July 2019).
666:Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty of 716
360:Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria
1347:]. Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo.
933:
51:
1203:
1194:
1185:
1176:
1167:
1158:
1149:
1140:
1103:
1094:
1067:
1058:
1037:
1028:
1003:
994:
985:
837:area between the Black Sea and
699:The Magyars pursue Simeon I to
626:Christianization of the country
1451:History of Kırklareli Province
1318:University of California Press
976:
967:
910:
901:
892:
883:
874:
379:Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
13:
1:
1224:The Bulgarian Khans and Tsars
806:Among the casualties was the
602:
1431:890s in the Byzantine Empire
868:
831:
7:
1373:Journal of Military History
10:
1472:
1337:Zlatarski, Vasil (1971) .
1215:
630:Saints Cyril and Methodius
557:
767:
549:
207:
151:
138:
123:
106:
66:
50:
37:
32:
542:Battle of Boulgarophygon
448:Uprising of Peter Delyan
199:Byzantine–Bulgarian wars
40:Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
33:Battle of Boulgarophygon
1436:9th century in Bulgaria
796:Domestic of the Schools
472:Second Bulgarian Empire
18:Battle of Bulgarophygon
1308:Whittow, Mark (1996).
1293:George Bell & Sons
1173:Zlatarski, pp. 318–321
1064:Zlatarski, pp. 300–301
1034:Zlatarski, pp. 293–294
898:Zlatarski, pp. 261–262
889:Zlatarski, pp. 271–273
804:
780:
708:
617:
574:First Bulgarian Empire
558:Μάχη του Βουλγαρόφυγου
550:Битка при Булгарофигон
160:Almost the entire army
124:Commanders and leaders
800:
775:
703:, miniature from the
698:
610:
152:Casualties and losses
1250:. London: Cardinal.
578:trade war of 894–896
130:Simeon I of Bulgaria
1398: /
1267:1300 Years On Guard
1209:Andreev, pp. 99–100
880:Andreev, pp. 73, 75
717:Byzantine diplomacy
688:), probably around
672:Magyar intervention
620:During the rule of
1242:Obolensky, Dimitri
1182:Andreev, pp. 94–95
1000:Andreev, pp. 92–93
863:battle of Achelous
781:
762:Kingdom of Hungary
749:Leo Choirosphaktes
709:
682:Theme of Macedonia
634:Council of Preslav
618:
514:Uprising of Ivaylo
351:3rd Constantinople
290:2nd Constantinople
215:1st Constantinople
1402:41.433°N 27.100°E
1257:978-0-351-17644-9
1164:Treadgold, p. 464
1137:Zlatarski, p. 317
1109:Obolensky, p. 106
1073:Zlatarski, p. 301
1043:Zlatarski, p. 292
1009:Zlatarski, p. 289
991:Obolensky, p. 105
982:Zlatarski, p. 286
733:Nikephoros Phokas
537:
536:
164:
163:
102:
101:
98:Bulgarian victory
16:(Redirected from
1463:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1409:
1408:
1403:
1399:
1396:
1395:
1394:
1391:
1380:
1356:
1331:
1304:
1279:"The Two Eagles"
1275:Runciman, Steven
1270:
1261:
1237:
1210:
1207:
1201:
1198:
1192:
1189:
1183:
1180:
1174:
1171:
1165:
1162:
1156:
1155:Runciman, p. 148
1153:
1147:
1144:
1138:
1135:
1126:
1123:
1110:
1107:
1101:
1098:
1092:
1091:Runciman, p. 147
1089:
1074:
1071:
1065:
1062:
1056:
1055:Runciman, p. 146
1053:
1044:
1041:
1035:
1032:
1026:
1023:
1010:
1007:
1001:
998:
992:
989:
983:
980:
974:
973:Runciman, p. 144
971:
965:
964:
962:
960:
951:. Archived from
944:
931:
928:
917:
914:
908:
905:
899:
896:
890:
887:
881:
878:
847:Petar Gojniković
815:Luke the Stylite
778:Madrid Skylitzes
705:Madrid Skylitzes
614:Madrid Skylitzes
570:Byzantine Empire
559:
551:
489:2nd Arcadiopolis
460:5th Thessalonica
455:4th Thessalonica
416:3rd Thessalonica
406:2nd Thessalonica
391:1st Thessalonica
367:1st Arcadiopolis
202:
200:
190:
183:
176:
167:
166:
118:Byzantine Empire
113:Bulgarian Empire
68:
67:
60:Madrid Skylitzes
55:
30:
29:
21:
1471:
1470:
1466:
1465:
1464:
1462:
1461:
1460:
1416:
1415:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1397:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1385:
1384:
1363:
1361:Further reading
1328:
1258:
1234:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1204:
1200:Whittow, p. 287
1199:
1195:
1190:
1186:
1181:
1177:
1172:
1168:
1163:
1159:
1154:
1150:
1145:
1141:
1136:
1129:
1124:
1113:
1108:
1104:
1099:
1095:
1090:
1077:
1072:
1068:
1063:
1059:
1054:
1047:
1042:
1038:
1033:
1029:
1024:
1013:
1008:
1004:
999:
995:
990:
986:
981:
977:
972:
968:
958:
956:
955:on 27 July 2012
945:
934:
929:
920:
915:
911:
906:
902:
897:
893:
888:
884:
879:
875:
871:
834:
809:protovestiarios
770:
674:
638:Vladimir-Rasate
605:
538:
533:
203:
198:
196:
194:
90:
56:
43:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1469:
1459:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1426:890s conflicts
1407:41.433; 27.100
1382:
1381:
1362:
1359:
1358:
1357:
1333:
1332:
1326:
1305:
1271:
1262:
1256:
1238:
1232:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1211:
1202:
1193:
1184:
1175:
1166:
1157:
1148:
1139:
1127:
1125:Andreev, p. 94
1111:
1102:
1100:Andreev, p. 86
1093:
1075:
1066:
1057:
1045:
1036:
1027:
1025:Andreev, p. 93
1011:
1002:
993:
984:
975:
966:
947:Mladjov, Ian.
932:
930:Andreev, p. 92
918:
916:Andreev, p. 91
909:
907:Andreev, p. 87
900:
891:
882:
872:
870:
867:
833:
830:
769:
766:
725:Byzantine navy
686:Eastern Thrace
673:
670:
658:Constantinople
647:child of peace
604:
601:
593:Constantinople
568:) between the
554:Medieval Greek
535:
534:
532:
531:
526:
521:
516:
511:
509:2nd Adrianople
506:
501:
496:
491:
486:
481:
468:
467:
462:
457:
444:
443:
438:
433:
428:
423:
418:
413:
408:
403:
398:
393:
388:
386:Trajan's Gates
375:
374:
369:
356:
355:
354:
353:
348:
343:
338:
330:War of 913–927
326:
325:
324:
322:Boulgarophygon
316:War of 894–896
303:
302:
297:
292:
287:
285:1st Adrianople
282:
277:
272:
267:
253:
252:
247:
242:
237:
232:
227:
222:
217:
208:
205:
204:
193:
192:
185:
178:
170:
162:
161:
158:
154:
153:
149:
148:
145:
141:
140:
136:
135:
132:
126:
125:
121:
120:
115:
109:
108:
104:
103:
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
84:Boulgarophygon
82:
80:
76:
75:
72:
64:
63:
48:
47:
45:War of 894–896
35:
34:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1468:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1423:
1421:
1414:
1411:
1379:(3): 719–746.
1378:
1374:
1370:
1365:
1364:
1354:
1350:
1346:
1342:
1341:
1335:
1334:
1329:
1327:0-520-20497-2
1323:
1319:
1315:
1311:
1306:
1302:
1298:
1294:
1290:
1286:
1285:
1280:
1276:
1272:
1268:
1263:
1259:
1253:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1239:
1235:
1233:954-427-216-X
1229:
1225:
1220:
1219:
1206:
1197:
1188:
1179:
1170:
1161:
1152:
1143:
1134:
1132:
1122:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1106:
1097:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1070:
1061:
1052:
1050:
1040:
1031:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1016:
1006:
997:
988:
979:
970:
954:
950:
943:
941:
939:
937:
927:
925:
923:
913:
904:
895:
886:
877:
873:
866:
864:
860:
856:
850:
848:
842:
840:
829:
827:
823:
818:
816:
811:
810:
803:
799:
797:
793:
792:
787:
779:
774:
765:
763:
759:
755:
750:
746:
742:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
718:
714:
706:
702:
697:
693:
691:
687:
683:
679:
669:
667:
663:
659:
655:
650:
648:
643:
642:Old Bulgarian
639:
635:
631:
627:
623:
616:
615:
609:
600:
598:
594:
590:
586:
581:
579:
575:
571:
567:
563:
555:
547:
543:
530:
527:
525:
522:
520:
517:
515:
512:
510:
507:
505:
502:
500:
497:
495:
492:
490:
487:
485:
482:
480:
477:
476:
475:
474:
473:
466:
463:
461:
458:
456:
453:
452:
451:
450:
449:
442:
439:
437:
434:
432:
429:
427:
424:
422:
419:
417:
414:
412:
409:
407:
404:
402:
399:
397:
394:
392:
389:
387:
384:
383:
382:
381:
380:
373:
370:
368:
365:
364:
363:
362:
361:
352:
349:
347:
344:
342:
339:
337:
334:
333:
332:
331:
327:
323:
320:
319:
318:
317:
313:
312:
311:
310:
308:
301:
298:
296:
293:
291:
288:
286:
283:
281:
278:
276:
273:
271:
268:
266:
263:
262:
261:
260:
258:
251:
250:2nd Marcellae
248:
246:
243:
241:
240:2nd Anchialus
238:
236:
233:
231:
230:1st Marcellae
228:
226:
225:1st Anchialus
223:
221:
218:
216:
213:
212:
211:
206:
201:
191:
186:
184:
179:
177:
172:
171:
168:
159:
156:
155:
150:
146:
143:
142:
137:
134:Leo Katakalon
133:
131:
128:
127:
122:
119:
116:
114:
111:
110:
105:
97:
94:
93:
89:
85:
81:
78:
77:
74:Summer of 896
73:
70:
69:
65:
62:
61:
54:
49:
46:
41:
36:
31:
19:
1383:
1376:
1372:
1344:
1339:
1309:
1283:
1266:
1246:
1223:
1205:
1196:
1191:Fine, p. 141
1187:
1178:
1169:
1160:
1151:
1142:
1105:
1096:
1069:
1060:
1039:
1030:
1005:
996:
987:
978:
969:
957:. Retrieved
953:the original
912:
903:
894:
885:
876:
851:
843:
835:
821:
819:
807:
805:
801:
789:
782:
777:
710:
704:
675:
662:Thessaloniki
651:
646:
619:
612:
582:
541:
539:
470:
469:
446:
445:
377:
376:
358:
357:
328:
321:
314:
309:'s campaigns
305:
304:
259:'s campaigns
255:
254:
209:
107:Belligerents
58:
38:Part of the
1405: /
1314:Los Angeles
504:Klokotnitsa
441:Dyrrhachium
235:Rishki Pass
1420:Categories
690:Adrianople
603:Background
529:Rusokastro
396:Spercheios
372:Dorostolon
341:Katasyrtai
280:Versinikia
210:Early wars
1244:(1974) .
869:Footnotes
859:Pechenegs
839:Strandzha
832:Aftermath
826:al-Tabari
754:Pechenegs
546:Bulgarian
426:Strumitsa
295:Mesembria
245:Litosoria
1353:67080314
1277:(1930).
959:21 March
822:en route
758:Pannonia
684:(modern
589:Simeon I
572:and the
562:Babaeski
421:Kleidion
336:Achelous
307:Simeon I
300:Burdizon
275:Debeltos
139:Strength
79:Location
1393:27°06′E
1390:41°26′N
1216:Sources
857:or the
791:tagmata
745:Preslav
741:Drastar
737:Dobruja
721:Magyars
701:Drastar
622:Boris I
597:Balkans
585:Magyars
524:Skafida
484:Tryavna
465:Ostrovo
265:Serdica
147:Unknown
144:Unknown
1351:
1324:
1301:832687
1299:
1289:London
1254:
1230:
786:themes
768:Battle
729:Danube
678:Khazar
654:Leo VI
566:Turkey
519:Devina
494:Serres
479:Lovech
436:Setina
431:Bitola
401:Skopje
270:Pliska
95:Result
88:Thrace
1343:[
855:Serbs
713:Arabs
499:Varna
411:Kreta
346:Pegae
220:Ongal
157:Light
1349:OCLC
1322:ISBN
1297:OCLC
1252:ISBN
1228:ISBN
961:2011
788:and
540:The
257:Krum
71:Date
1456:896
660:to
1422::
1377:83
1375:.
1371:.
1320:.
1316::
1312:.
1295:.
1291::
1287:.
1281:.
1130:^
1114:^
1078:^
1048:^
1014:^
935:^
921:^
817:.
764:.
599:.
580:.
564:,
556::
552:;
548::
86:,
1355:.
1330:.
1303:.
1260:.
1236:.
963:.
544:(
189:e
182:t
175:v
42::
20:)
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