Battle of Serres

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Battle of Serres

Date	1196
Location	near Serres, Greece
Result	Bulgarian victory

Belligerents

Bulgarian Empire

Byzantine Empire

Commanders

Ivan Asen I

Sevastokrator Isaac

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Unknown

v • d • e

Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars

Early wars
Ongal – 1st Anchialus – Rishki Pass – 2nd Anchialus – Berzitia – Marcelae
Krum's campaigns
Serdica – Pliska – 1st Adrianople – Versinikia
Simeon I's campaigns
Bulgarophygon – 3rd Anchialus – Katasyrtai – Pigae
War between Samuil and Basil II
Trajan's Gates – 1st Thessalonica – Spercheios – Skopie – Kreta – 2nd Thessalonica – Kleidion – Strumitsa – Bitola – Setina
Bulgarian revolts
3rd Thessalonica – 4th Thessalonica – Ostrovo
Second Bulgarian Empire
Tryavna –
Arcadiopolis – Serres – Klokotnitsa – 2nd Adrianople – Devnya – Skafida – Rusokastro

The battle of Serres (Bulgarian: Битка при Сяр) took place in 1196 near the town of Serres in contemporary Greece between the armies of the Bulgarian and the Byzantine Empires. The result was Bulgarian victory.

[edit] Origins of the conflict

After the beginning of the Anti-Byzantine rebellion in 1185 and especially after the victory at Tryavna the Bulgarians firmly took the initiative of the war. As a result of their efforts, the Bulgarians started capturing regions of Thrace and Macedonia from Byzantines; the Bulgarian army used their strongholds to the north of the Balkan mountains and the Danube river as bases for the war.

Between 1190 and 1195 many towns to the south and south-west were seized. During his preparation for a third campaign against Bulgaria, the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos was dethroned by his brother Alexios III Angelos who offered peace to the Bulgarian Emperor. Ivan Asen I demanded the return of all Bulgarian lands, which he knew it was impossible for the Byzantines to accept, and continued the struggle.

[edit] The battle

In the same year, the Bulgarian army advanced deep to the south-west and reached the vicinity of Serres taking many fortresses on its way. During the winter the Bulgarians retreated to the north but in the next year reappeared and defeated a Byzantine army under Sevastokrator Isaac near the town. In the course of the battle the enemy's cavalry was surrounded and the Byzantines suffered heavy casualties and their commander was captured.

[edit] Aftermath

Instead of a triumphal return, the way back to the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo ended tragically. Slightly before reaching the city of Tarnovo, Ivan Asen I was murdered by cousin Ivanko who was bribed by the Byzantines. Still, their attempts to stop the Bulgarians failed: Ivanko could not take the throne and fled to Byzantium. The Bulgarians advanced further during the reign of Kaloyan (1197-1207).