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The Battle of Strumitsa (Bulgarian: Битка при Струмица) took place in August 1014 between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines. Shortly after the disaster at Kleidion Bulgarian troops under Emperor Samuil's son, Gavril Radomir defeated the army of the governor of Solun Theophylactus Botaniates who perished in the battle. After his death the Byzantine Emperor Basil II was forced to pull back from Bulgaria and could not use his success in the battle of Kleidion.
[edit] The battle
After his victory on 29 July 1014 when a large part of the Bulgarian army was destroyed Basil II marched westwards and seized the small fortress Matsukion near Strumitsa but the town itself remained in Bulgarian hands. That is why the Byzantine Emperor sent an army led by one of his most capable generals Theophylactus Botaniates to destroy the palisades to the south of the town which were built by Samuil before the campaign. Thus he would clear the way of the Byzantines to Solun through the valley of the Vardar river.
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He [Botaniates] marched on and the Bulgarians who guarded the surroundings allowed his to make him way undisturbed. But when he was preparing to go back to the Emperor after he had fulfilled his orders, he was ambushed in a long gorge. When he entered he was surrounded and fired with stones and arrows; he was killed and no one could help him... |
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—John Skylitzes, Selected sources for the Bulgarian history, v. II, p. 66
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The historian Vasil Zlatarski specifies the battlefield at the Kosturino gorge between the mountains Belasitsa and Plavush. The Byzantines could not organize their defense in the narrow pass and were annihilated. Most of their troops perished including their commander. According to bishop Michael of Devol Botaniates was killed by the heir to the Bulgarian throne Gavril Radomir who pierced the Byzantine general with his spear. Upon the news of that unexpected and heavy defeat, Basil II was forced to immediately retreat eastwards and not through the planned route via Solun. He also lifted the siege of Strumitsa. In order to break the spirit of the Bulgarians Basil II blinded thousands of soldiers previously captured at Kleidion and sent them to Samuil.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Подбрани извори за българската история, Том II: Българските държави и българите през Средновековието, Изд. "ТАНГРА ТанНакРа ИК", София 2004, ISBN 954-9942-40-6, с. 66-67
- Мутафчиев, Петър, Книга за българите, Издателство на БАН, София 1992, ISBN 954-430-128-3, с. 118-119
- Златарски, Васил, История на българската държава през средните векове, том 1, част 2, Академично издателство "Марин Дринов", София 1994, ISBN 954-430-299-9 (т. 1, ч. 2), с. 738 (с. 697-700 в електронно издание)
- Пириватрич, Сърджан, Самуиловата държава. Обхват и характер, Изд. група "АГАТА-А", София 2000, ISBN 954-540-020-X, с. 137
- Гюзелев, Васил, България от втората четвърт на Х до началото на ХІ век, с. 71, 74, в: Димитров, Илчо (ред.), Кратка история на България, изд. "Наука и изкуство", София 1983
