Battle of the Rishki Pass

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Battle of the Rishki Pass
Part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Date 759 Location Stara Planina Result Bulgarian victory
Combatants
Bulgaria	Byzantine Empire
Commanders
Khan Vinekh	Constantine V
Strength
Unknown	Very large army
Casualties
Light	Heavy

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 the Rishki Pass took place in the pass of the same name, Stara Planina, Bulgaria in 759.

[edit] Origins of the conflict

Between 755 and 775 the Byzantine emperor Constantine V organised nine campaigns to eliminate Bulgaria and although he managed to defeat the Bulgarians several times, he never achieved his goal.

[edit] The battle

In 759 the emperor lead an enormous army towards Bulgaria but khan Vinekh had enough time to bar several mountain passes. When the Byzantines reached the Rishki Pass they were ambushed and completely defeated. The Byzantine historian Theophan wrote that the Bulgarians killed the strategus of Thrace Leo, the commander of Drama and many soldiers.

[edit] Aftermath

Khan Vinekh did not take the favourable opportunity to advance on enemy territory. Instead he set negotiations for peace. This act was very unpopular among the nobles and the khan was murdered in 761.