Battle of Serres
The Battle of Serres (Bulgarian: Битка при Сяр, Greek: Μάχη των Σερρών) took place in 1196 near the town of Serres in contemporary Greece between the armies of the Bulgarian and Byzantine empires. The result of the battle was Bulgarian victory.
41°5′N 23°33′E / 41.083°N 23.550°E / 41.083; 23.550
Battle of Serres | |||||||
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Part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Bulgarian Empire | Byzantine Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ivan Asen I[1] | Sebastokrator Isaac |
- v
- t
- e
- 1st Constantinople
- Ongal
- 1st Anchialus
- 1st Marcellae
- Rishki Pass
- 2nd Anchialus
- Litosoria
- 2nd Marcellae
Krum's campaigns
- Serdica
- Pliska
- Debeltos
- Versinikia
- 1st Adrianople
- 2nd Constantinople
- Mesembria
- Burdizon
Simeon I's campaigns
- War of 894–896
- War of 913–927
- Achelous
- Katasyrtai
- Pegae
- 3rd Constantinople
Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria
- 1st Arcadiopolis
- Dorostolon
Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
- Trajan's Gates
- 1st Thessalonica
- Spercheios
- Skopje
- 2nd Thessalonica
- Kreta
- 3rd Thessalonica
- Kleidion
- Strumitsa
- Bitola
- Setina
- Dyrrhachium
- 4th Thessalonica
- 5th Thessalonica
- Ostrovo
- Lovech
- Tryavna
- 2nd Arcadiopolis
- Serres
- Varna
- Klokotnitsa
- 2nd Adrianople
- Uprising of Ivaylo
- Devina
- Skafida
- Rusokastro
Origins of the conflict
After the beginning of the anti-Byzantine rebellion in 1185 and especially after the victory at Tryavna the Bulgarians firmly took the initiative of the war. As a result of their efforts, the Bulgarians started capturing regions of Thrace and Macedonia from Byzantines; the Bulgarian army used their strongholds to the north of the Balkan mountains and the Danube river as bases for the war.
Between 1190 and 1195 many towns to the south and south-west were seized. During his preparation for a third campaign against Bulgaria, the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos was dethroned by his brother Alexios III Angelos who offered peace to the Bulgarian Emperor. Ivan Asen I demanded the return of all Bulgarian lands, which he knew it was impossible for the Byzantines to accept, and continued the struggle.
The battle
In the same year, the Bulgarian army advanced deep to the south-west and reached the vicinity of Serres taking many fortresses on its way. During the winter, the Bulgarians retreated to the north but in the next year reappeared and defeated a Byzantine army under the sebastokrator Isaac near the town. In the course of the battle, the Byzantine cavalry was surrounded, suffering heavy casualties, and their commander was captured.
Aftermath
Instead of a triumphal return, the way back to the Bulgarian capital ended tragically. Slightly before reaching Tarnovo, Ivan Asen I was murdered by his cousin Ivanko, who had been allegedly bribed by the Byzantines. Still, their attempts to stop the Bulgarians failed: Ivanko could not take the throne and had to flee to Byzantium. The Bulgarians advanced further during the reign of Kaloyan (r. 1197–1207).
References
- ^ Nicetas Choniates, Historia, ed. J.-L. Van Dieten, 2 vols. (Berlin and New York, 1975); trans. as O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniates, by H.J. Magoulias (Detroit; Wayne State University Press, 1984)