Battle of Klokotnitsa

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Battle of Klokotnitsa
Part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Date March 9, 1230 Location Klokotnitsa, Bulgaria Result Decisive Bulgarian victory
Combatants
Bulgarian Empire	Despotate of Epirus
Commanders
Ivan Asen II	Theodore Komnenos Doukas
Strength
Unknown	Much larger force
Casualties
Light	Almost the whole army was killed or captured

Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Rishki Pass  – Marcelae  – Serdica  – Pliska – Adrianople (813) – Versinikia  – Bulgarophygon  – Anchialus  – Trayanovi Vrata  – Kleidion  – Ostrovo  – Klokotnitsa  – Adrianople (1254) – Devnya  – Skafida  – Rusokastro

The Battle of Klokotnitsa (Bulgarian: Битка при Клокотница, Bitka pri Klokotnitsa) occured on 9 March 1230 near the village of Klokotnitsa (today in Haskovo Province, Bulgaria). As a result, the Second Bulgarian Empire emerged once again as the most powerful state in Eastern Europe and the power of the Despotate of Epirus faded. The battle is often considered by historians to be the luckiest in the Bulgarian military history.

[edit] Origins of the conflict

Around 1221–1222 the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Asen II made an alliance with Theodore Komnenos Doukas of Epirus. Backed on this treaty, Theodore managed to conquer Solun (Thessalonica) from the Latin Empire, as well as Bulgarian lands in Macedonia including Ohrid. After the death of the Latin emperor Robert of Courtenay in 1228, Ivan Asen II was considered the most probable choice for regent of Baldwin II.

Theodore thought that Bulgaria is the only obstacle left on his way to Constantinople and in the beginning of March 1230 he invaded the country without a declaration of war.

[edit] The battle

Theodore Komnenos summoned an enormous army including western mercenaries. He was so confident for his victory that he took the whole royal court with himself including his wife and children. His army moved slowly and plundered the villages on its way. When the Bulgarian tsar learned that the state was invaded, he gathered a small army of a few thousand men and quickly marched southwards. For four days the Bulgarians covered a distance three times longer than Theodore's army for a week.

On 9 March the two armies met near the village of Klokotnitsa. It is believed that Ivan Asen II ordered the broken mutual protection treaty to be sticked on his spear and used as a flag. He was a good tactician and managed to surround the enemy who was surprised to meet the Bulgarians so soon. The battled continued until sunset. The Epirians were completely defeated, only a small force under the despot's brother Manuel managed to escape the battlefield. The rest were killed in the battle or captured, including the royal court of Epirus and Theodore himself.

[edit] Aftermath

Ivan Asen II immediately released the captured soldiers without any conditions and the nobles were taken to Tarnovo. His fame of merciful and justice ruler went ahead of his march to the lands of Theodore Komnenos and they were regained to Bulgaria without resistance.