Battle of Rusokastro

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Date	July 18, 1332
Location	The village of Rusokastro, Burgas Province, Bulgaria
Result	Decisive Bulgarian victory

Combatants

Bulgarian Empire

Byzantine Empire

Commanders

Ivan Alexander

Andronikos III Palaiologos

Strength

11,000

3,000

Casualties

Light

Heavy

The battle of Rusokastro occured on 18 July 1332 near the village of Rusokastro, Bulgaria.

[edit] Origines of the conflict

In 1328 the emperors of Bulgaria and Byzantium Michael Asen III and Andronikos III Palaiologos signed a secret treaty against Serbia. While Michael Asen III was fighting against the Serbs in 1330, the Byzantines invaded Thrace and captured the Bulgarian towns there. Following the defeat of Bulgaria in the Battle of Velbužd the Byzantines got a firm foothold there but the new Bulgarian emperor Ivan Alexander signed peace with the Serbs and turned his armies against the treacherous Byzantines.

[edit] The Battle

Ivan Alexander had 8,000 troops while the Byzantines were only 3,000. There were negotiations between the two rulers but the Bulgarian emperor deliberately prolonged them because he was waiting reinforcements. In the night of 17 July they finally arrived in his camp (3,000 cavaliers) and he decided to attack the Byzantines in the next day. Andronikos III Palaiologos had no choice but to accept the fight. The Byzantines tried to prevent the Bulgarian cavalry to surround them but their manoeuvre failed and they ran away from the battlefield and hid in Rusokastro. The battle began at 6:00 and ended at 9:00.

[edit] Aftermath

The Bulgarians returned the lost lands in Thrace and strengthened the positions of the Empire. This battle was considered by the medieval Bulgarian historians as a great triumph of emperor Ivan Alexander.