Battle of Skafida

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Battle of Skafida
Part of Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Date 1304 Location near Sozopol, Bulgaria Result Bulgarian victory
Combatants
Bulgarian Empire	Byzantine Empire
Commanders
Theodore Svetoslav	Michael IX Palaiologos
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties
Unknown	Unknown

The battle of Skafida(Bulgarian: Битка при Скафида) occurred in 1304 near Sozopol, Bulgaria. As a result the Bulgarian Empire overcame the crisis from the end of the 13th century, achieved internal stability and regained most of Thrace. Byzantium was no longer any serious threat for it.

[edit] Origine of the conflict

When Theodore Svetoslav was crowned as Emperor of Bulgaria in 1300 sought revenge for the Tatar attacks on the state in the past 20 years. The traitors were punished first, including the Patriarch Joakim III, who was proved guilty in helping the enemies of the crown. Then he turned to Byzantium who inspired the Tatar invasions and managed to conquer many Bulgarian fortresses in Thrace. In 1303 he marched southwards and captured many towns. In the following year the Byzantines counter-attacked and the armies met near the Skafida river.

[edit] The battle

The Byzantines had an advantage in the beginning and managed to push the Bulgarians over the river. They were so infatuated with the chase of the retreating soldiers that they crowded on the bridge which was sabotaged before that from the Bulgarians and it finally broke down. The river was very deep and Byzantines paniced which helped the Bulgarians to snatch the victory.

[edit] Aftermath

After the victory the Bulgarians captured a lot of Byzantine soldiers and according to custom the ordinary people are released and only the nobles are hold up for ransom.The Bulgarian army continued its victorious campaign and the enemy could not stop them although the Byzantine emperor melt his personal treasure to recruit more soldiers. A piece treaty was signed in 1307 and it continued till Theodore Svetoslav's death in 1321.