[MoFA] The Great battles of Bulgaria vol 2

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[MoFA] The Great battles of Bulgaria vol 2 | Tweet

Published in Bulgaria - Social interactions and entertainment - 10 - 22 Dec 17 02:09

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of eBulgaria proudly presents:
The Great battles of Bulgaria - The Battle of the Varbista Pass

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v4Mqv5FfAOek5hiYH8M1AsRO-YlHtZ7ahKytmJj65sk1WTI8covw-HBXzSrb2uKAUkB-5YlKtQv6AXKfEVKT_vwgVy47WWNz7XWzCSyuU9J6piJ7As32ySqHNPORQI83UcAZCbDD

The Great battles of Bulgaria is a series of articles about Bulgarias greatest millitary successesÂ throughout ItsÂ history.

The Great battles of Bulgaria vol 1Â

The Battle of the Varbitsa Pass, 811

The Battle of Varbitsa Pass was a series of battles between troops, gathered from all parts of the Eastern Roman Empire, led by the Emperor Nicephorus I Genik, and Bulgaria, ruled by (Khan) Krum, with the main battle occuring on July the 26th, 811. It is a great but a not very well known battle.

Nikephoros I was crowned emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantia) in 802. He wanted to retake Bulgarian-held territory back into the Empire. In 807 he launched a campaign, but without success because of problems with his political rivals in Constantinople. Khan Krum counter attacked and in 809 captured the fortress of Serdica, present-day Sofia (the current capital of Bulgaria). In 811, the Byzantine Emperor organized a new campaign gathering a massive army from all parts of the Empire, including irregular troops who expected a swift victory and plunder. The Romans saw it as a pleasant field trip and most of the high-ranking officials and aristocrats accompanied the emperor, including his son Stauracius and brother-in-law Michael I Rangabe (both emperors later, for a while). The whole army consisted of around 80,000 soldiers.

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The army gathered in May, and by 10th July had set up camp at the fortress of Marcelae (present-day Karnobat) near the Bulgarian frontier. Nicephorus intended to confuse the Bulgarians and over the next ten days launched several supposed attacks, which were immediately called back. Krum assessed the situation and estimated that he could not repulse the enemy and offered peace, three times, which Nicephorus naughtily rejected. Theophanes wrote that the Emperor, was deterred from his own ill thoughts and the suggestions of his advisors who were thinking like him. Some of his military chiefs considered the invasion of Bulgaria to be imprudent and too risky, but Nicephorus was convinced of his ultimate success.

In June, the Imperial army crossed the borders and marched through the Balkan passes. We know that two smaller Bulgarian armies were heavily defeated thus Krum decided to regroup and wait for the emperors movements. While the Roman army was plundering an unkown city, we dont know its name but it was not the Bulgarian capital Pliska (already proven), Krum mobilized his army including women and Avar mercenaries (It is believed that exactly a unit of women actually killed the Roman Emperor) to set traps and ambushes in the mountain passes. Nikephoros, on his way back home, neglected warnings by his scouts and on 25th July his army entered the Varbitsa Pass just to see that the road was barred with thick wooden walls, while Krums troops had taken positions in the heights around. Before they could retreat, the Bulgarians blocked the pass entrance too. The Romans were trapped.Â

Nikephoros, unable to maneuver, simply set up a camp, despite his generals pleading. By the third night Byzantine morale was shattered, while Bulgararian troops banged their shields and taunted them. They tightened the belt around the trapped enemy and at dawn rushed down and attacked the panicked and totally confused Romans. One of the most brutal slaughters in all of medieval history ensued. The Bulgarians set upon their enemies and slaughtered thousands of Roman troops, nearly wiping out the entire army of 80,000 men. Reportedly, only a few survived the defeat. The most notable person to be killed, however, was Emperor Nicephorus, who according to historians died on a dunghill on the day of the battle. His son, Stauracius, was carried to safety by the Imperial bodyguard after receiving a paralyzing wound to his neck. Six months later, his wounds finally killed him. The battles resulted with the death of two Roman emperors.Â

Khan Krum defeats the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus I in the battle of the Varbitsa Pass, Manasses Chronicle

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According to one of the best known legends from that period, Krum had the Emperors head on a spike, then lined his skull with silver and used it as a drinking cup.

Itâ€™s the most epic defeat the Eastern Roman Empire had suffered up until that time in its history. The battle ended a dynasty and set the Empire reeling on a downward spiral that would eventually lead, ten years later, to Its first civil war. It also deterred Byzantine rulers from sending their troops north of the Balkans for more than 150 years afterwards, which increased the influence and spread of the Bulgarians to the west and south of the Balkan Peninsula, resulting in a great territorial enlargement.

The battle itself was a huge boon to Krum, who only three years later drew his army up against the very walls of Constantinople and prepared to besiege it. He possibly might have succeeded, except that he died at an inopportune moment and the Bulgarian army lost heart.

Thats all from me, hope you guys like it, let me know what you think in the comment section below and feel free to ask me any questions regarding Bulgaria ingame and in real life. Cheers! :)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of eBulgaria,
Deflection