BATTLE OF VERSINIKIA

The 'Battle of Versinikia' was fought in 813 between the Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria. The Bulgarians were victorious, resulting in the dethroning of Michael I Rhangabes by Leo V (The Armenian).

Contents

Prelude

The battle

Aftermath

Sources and references

Prelude

After the great victory over the Byzantine army of emperor Nicephorus I in 811, Bulgarian Khan Subigi (Sublime) Krum continued the strategic advance in Thrace and Macedonia. Altering peace proposals with seizing important towns and strongholds he soon reached the walls of Constantinople.

On the other side of the walls, Michael I Rhangabes, master of the palace at the reign of emperor Nicephorus I, was made Byzantine emperor in a palace revolution. He prepared a vast army willing to take revenge on the victorious Bulgarian Khan.

The battle

In the summer of 813 the emperor Michael I Rhangabes surprised a small Bulgarian army in Thrace, near Versinikia. Historical account (John Skylitzes in Synopsis Historion, etc.) stated that the Byzantine army was 9 times (some historians stated even 20 times) bigger than the Bulgarian hosts. Therefore, the Bulgarians kept on a defensive position. Despite the numerical, logistic and strategic superiority the Byzantine army did not confront the adversary. Both armies got tense and anxious having waited in full armor for 13 days in the hot summer of Thrace.

At the end the nerves of the Byzantine commanders failed the test of nerve and stamina. On 22 June 813 Leo the Armenian defying the order of emperor Michael I Rhangabes attacked the Bulgarian left flank. The Byzantine centre followed with fierce assault. Khan Krum counterattacked with Bulgarian heavy cavalry against the left flank of Byzantines. After ferocious battle the Byzantine host was in total retreat.

The chief commanders of Byzantine army, including the emperor Michael I Rhangabes and Leo the Armenian, abandoned the battlefield. Their soldiers were defeated and the Byzantine army completely destroyed despite its numerical superiority.

Aftermath

The small Bulgarian army of Khan Krum carried on advancing and even blockaded by land the Byzantine capital trying to get a better Peace deal. The Battle of Versinikia was the final triumph of Khan Subigi Krum over the East Roman Empire. Ten months later Bulgarian Khan would pass away after a sudden cardiac attack.

Sources and references

★ Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle, Ed. Carl de Boor, Leipzig.

★ John Skylitzes, ''Synopsis Historion'', translated by Paul Stephenson.

★ Васил Н. Златарски, История на българската държава през средните векове, Част I, II изд., Наука и изкуство, София 1970.