Battle of Skopje
Battle of Skopje | |||||||
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Part of the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria | |||||||
Bulgarians put to flight by Ouranos at the Spercheios River from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Byzantine Empire | Bulgarian Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Basil II | Samuel of Bulgaria |
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- 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
- Boulgarophygon
- 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
The Battle of Skopje occurred in 1004 within the vicinity of the city of Skopje. The battled was waged between forces of the Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire. The result was Byzantine victory.
Background
In 1003, Basil II launched a campaign against the First Bulgarian Empire and after eight months of siege conquered the important town of Vidin to the north-west. The Bulgarian counter strike in the opposite direction towards Odrin did not distract him from his aim and after seizing Vidin he marched southwards through the valley of the Morava destroying the Bulgarian castles on his way. Eventually, Basil II reached the vicinity of Skopje and learned that the camp of the Bulgarian army was situated very close on the other side of the Vardar river.
Battle
Samuil of Bulgaria relied on the high waters of the river of Vardar and did not take any serious precautions to secure the camp. Strangely the circumstances were the same as at the battle of Spercheios seven years earlier, and the scenario of the fight was similar. The Byzantines managed to find a ford, crossed the river and attacked the heedless Bulgarians at night. Unable to resist effectively the Bulgarians soon retreated, leaving the camp and Samuil's tent in the hands of the Byzantines. During this battle Samuil managed to escape and headed east.
References
- Йордан Андреев, Милчо Лалков, Българските ханове и царе, Велико Търново, 1996.
42°00′N 21°26′E / 42.000°N 21.433°E / 42.000; 21.433
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