Battle of Pigae

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Battle of Pigae

Date	March 922
Location	village of Balakla, near Istambul
Result	Bulgarian victory

Combatants

Bulgaria

Byzantine Empire

Commanders

Theodore Sigritsa

Potas Argirus
Alexios Musele †

Strength

Large army

Unknown

Casualties

Unknown

Heavy

Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Ongala –1st Anchialus – Rishki Pass –2nd Anchialus – Berzitia – Marcelae – Serdica – Pliska – 1st Adrianople – Versinikia – Bulgarophygon – 3rd Anchialus – Katasyrtai – Pigae – Trayanovi Vrata – Solun – Spercheios – Skopie – Kleidion – Ostrovo – Klokotnitsa – 2nd Adrianople – Devnya – Skafida – Rusokastro

The battle of Pigae occurred between 11 and 18 March 922 in the outskirts of present-day Istambul. The result was a Bulgarian victory.

1 Origins of the conflict
2 The battle
3 Aftermath
4 Sources

[edit] Origins of the conflict

After the major victories in 917 Simeon tried to assume the Byzantine throne and his first step was to become a regent of the juvenile Emperor Constantine VII, but in 919 admiral Romanos Lekapenos, who was trying to prevent the Bulgarian influence in Byzantium, replaced the young Emperor's mother Zoe as regent and by 920 he proclaimed himself for co-Emperor which ruined Simeon's ambitions to ascend the throne by diplomatic means. In 920 the Bulgarian Emperor waged a war and a took almost all Byzantine possessions on the Balkans between 920-924.

[edit] The battle

In 922 a large Bulgarian army under the first minister Theodore Sigritsa marched swiftly through the Strandzha Mountains and reached the outskirts of Constantinople. Romanos sent troops under the commander Potas Argirus and the admiral of the navy Alexions Musele to face the Bulgarians. The battle took place at Pigae. The initial Bulgarian blow was irresistible, and the Byzantine commanders were the first to flee. Musele drowned in a desperate attempt to reach a ship. Most of the Byznatine soldiers and sailors were killed, drowned, or captured.