Battle of Adrianople (1205)

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Battle of Adrianople

Date	April 14, 1205
Location	Adrianople
Result	Decisive Bulgarian victory

Combatants

Commanders

Strength

Unknown

Casualties

Several thousand soldiers, 300 knights

Unknown, light

The Battle of Adrianople occurred on April 14, 1205 between Bulgarians under Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria, and Crusaders under Baldwin I. It was won by the Bulgarians after a skillful ambush using the help of their Cuman and Greek allies. Around 300 knights were killed, including Louis of Blois, Duke of Nicaea and Baldwin was captured, blinded, and later died in captivity. The Bulgarians then overran much of Thrace and Macedonia. Baldwin was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry of Flanders, who took the throne on August 20, 1205.

The main source document for this battle comes from the Chronicles of Geoffrey de Villehardouin:

"Kaloyan, King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, came to succour Adrianople with a very great army. He brought with him Bulgarians, Wallachians, and a full fourteen thousand Cumans who had never been baptised."

It was arranged by the Crusaders that Geoffry the Marshal, and Manasses of l'Isle should guard the camp, and that the Emperor Baldwin and all the remainder of the army should issue from the camp if Kaloyan came and offered battle.

Thus they remained till the Wednesday of Easter week, and Kaloyan had by that time approached so near that he encamped at about five leagues from the Crusaders. Kaloyan sent his Cumans running before the enemy camp. A cry was raised throughout the camp, and the crusaders rushed out to meet their foe. They pursued the Cumans for a full league very foolishly; for when they wished to return, the Cumans began to shoot at them in grievous wise, and wounded a good many of their horses.

The crusaders then returned to the camp, and the barons were summoned to the quarters of the Emperor Baldwin. And they took counsel, and all said that they had dealt foolishly in pursuing people who were so lightly armed. In the end they settled that if Kaloyan came on again, they would set themselves in array of battle before the camp, and there wait for him, and not move from there.

So they passed that night until the Thursday morning in Easter week, when they heard mass and ate their dinner. The Cumans ran up to their tents, and a cry arose. The Crusaders ran to arms, and issued from the camp with all their battalions in array, as they agreed.

Count Louis went out first with his battalion, and began to follow after the Cumans, and sent to urge the emperor to come after him. They then ran in pursuit of the Cumans for at least two leagues, and joined issue with them, and chased them a long space. The Cumans then turned back upon them, and began to cry out and shoot. Count Louis, who had been the first to attack, was wounded in two places. The Cumans and Wallachians began to invade the Crusader's ranks, the count had fallen, and one of his knights, whose name was John of Friaise, dismounted, and set him on his horse.

Many were Count Louis' people who said: "Sir, get you hence, for you are too sorely wounded, and in two places." And he said: "The Lord God forbid that ever I should be reproached with flying from the field, and abandoning the emperor."

The emperor, who was in great straits on his side, recalled his people, and he told them that he would not fly, and that they were to remain with him: and well do those who were there present bear witness that never did knight defend himself better with his hands than did the emperor. This combat lasted a long time. Some were there who did well, and some were there who fled. In the end, they were discomfited. There on the field remained the Emperor Baldwin, who never would fly, and Count Louis; the Emperor Baldwin was taken alive and Count Louis was slain.

There the crusaders lost: the Bishop Peter of Bethlehem, and Stephen of Perche, brother to Count Geoffry, and Renaud of Montmirail, brother of the Count of Nevers, and Matthew of Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi, John of Friaise, Walter of Neuilli, Ferri of Yerres, John his brother, Eustace of Heumont, John his brother, Baldwin of Neuville, and many more.

In the aftermath, Bulgaria and Nicean Empire (remains of Byzantine Empire after fall of Constantinople in 1204 - territory was situated in Asia Minor) would form an alliency against the Latin Empire of Constantinople. The war against Kaloyan and Theodore Lascaris continued. In 1207 the Bulgarians attacked and killed Marquis Boniface of Montferrat at Messinopolis. His head was cut off and sent to Kaloyan.