Battle of Solun

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Battle of Solun

Date	996
Location	Solun, Greece
Result	Bulgarian victory

Combatants

Bulgarian Empire

Byzantine Empire

Commanders

Samuil of Bulgaria

Dukas Gregorius†
Ashot

Strength

Unknown

Casualties

Light

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 Solun (Bulgarian: битка при Солун) occurred in 996 near the city of Solun, present-day Greece.

1 Origines of the conflict
2 The battle
3 Aftermath
4 References

[edit] Origines of the conflict

After the great victory in the battle of Trayanovi Vrata and the followed anarchy in the Byzantine Empire, Samuil attacked the Byzantine strongholds all over the Balkans. In 996 he led a campaign against the second largest town in Byzantium.

[edit] The battle

Samuil was a skilful military commander and organised a brilliant ambush. He ordered his soldiers to dig ditches, pitfalls and other traps outside the town and left most of the army there. Then Samiul assaulted the fortress with a small detached force. He had good reasons to believe that the Byzantines will start chasing his troops and after their advance party under the son of the governor Gregorius, Ashot came out in persuit they were driven into the ambush and perished. When Gregorius saw that he and his troops also came forward but they were also defeated and the governor was killed, while his son was captured.

[edit] Aftermath

The victory inspired Samuil for new campaigns and later this year he reached Corinth deep in Byzantine territory but on their way to Bulgaria his troops were defeated at Spercheios.