The Battle of Litosoria[2] or Lithosoria[3] (Bulgarian: Битка при Литосория)[4] occurred between the Byzantines and Bulgars in the fall of 774 at an unknown place named Litosoria. It was located in the border area between both states,[5] in the region of Zagore,[6] probably north of the line Kirklareli - Vize in modern Turkey.[7] The result was a Byzantine victory.
After an unsuccessful campaign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine V earlier that year, the Bulgar Khan Telerig decided to strike back to the southwest and sent a small raiding army of 12,000 to capture Berzitia.
The Byzantine emperor was informed of the raid in due time by his spies in Pliska and gathered an enormous force. The Byzantines surprised the Bulgarian army, and after a long fight they managed to defeat them due to their greater superiority in the number of soldiers.
Constantine V was eager to follow up his success and led another campaign against the Bulgars, but once again it failed. However, Telerig learned during this event that all his plans were known to Constantine through a network of spies within his government. He decided to eliminate them once and for all and sent a message to Constantine, stating that he was going to flee in exile to Constantinople. In exchange, Telerig asked the emperor to reveal the spies to his associates in Pliska for their own safety. As Telerig was not the first ruler to flee to Constantinople, Constantine revealed his information and sent the Bulgarian government the list of spies; however, Telerig deceived him and did not travel to Constantinople. When Telerig learned of their names, he executed them all and eliminated the Byzantine spy network within his government.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abЙордан Андреев, Милчо Лалков, Българските ханове и царе, Велико Търново, 1996, c. 41
^Michael Palairet, Macedonia: A Voyage through History (Vol. 1, From Ancient Times to the Ottoman Invasions), Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016, ISBN1443888435, p. 174.
^Dennis P. Hupchick, The Bulgarian-Byzantine Wars for Early Medieval Balkan Hegemony: Silver-Lined Skulls and Blinded Armies, Springer, 2017, ISBN3319562061, p. 59.
^Златарски, В. История на българската държава през средните векове, том I, част 1, Изд. "Наука и изкуство", София 1970, стр. 304.
^Panos Sophoulis, Byzantium and Bulgaria, 775-831, Volume 16 of East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, BRILL, 2011, ISBN9004206957, pp. 94-95.
^Ilse Rochow, Byzantium in the 8th century in the view of Theophanes: source critical-historical come to the Jahven 715-813, Volume 57 of Berlin Byzantine works, Akad.-Verlag, 1991, ISBN3050007001, p. 215.
^Karl Krumbacher, Byzantinische Zeitschrift, Volumes 65-66, Walter de Gruyter & Co, G.G. Teubner, 1971, p. 392.
^John V.A. Fine, Jr. (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans: "A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century", p. 77. ISBN978-0-472-08149-3
Sourcesedit
Florin Curta (31 August 2006). Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250. Cambridge University Press. pp. 88–. ISBN978-0-521-81539-0.
Further readingedit
Stoyanov, Aleksandr (July 2019). "The Size of Bulgaria's Medieval Field Armies: A Case Study of Military Mobilization Capacity in the Middle Ages". Journal of Military History. 83 (3): 719–746.
February 09, 2024
battle, litosoria, lithosoria, bulgarian, Битка, при, Литосория, occurred, between, byzantines, bulgars, fall, unknown, place, named, litosoria, located, border, area, between, both, states, region, zagore, probably, north, line, kirklareli, vize, modern, turk. The Battle of Litosoria 2 or Lithosoria 3 Bulgarian Bitka pri Litosoriya 4 occurred between the Byzantines and Bulgars in the fall of 774 at an unknown place named Litosoria It was located in the border area between both states 5 in the region of Zagore 6 probably north of the line Kirklareli Vize in modern Turkey 7 The result was a Byzantine victory Battle of LitosoriaPart of the Byzantine Bulgarian WarsLeo III the Isaurian with Constantine V AV Solidus Constantinople mint DateOctober 774LocationThraciaResultByzantine victoryBelligerentsBulgarian KingdomByzantine EmpireCommanders and leadersTelerig of BulgariaConstantine VStrength12 000 1 60 000 1 Casualties and lossesHeavyHeavyAfter an unsuccessful campaign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine V earlier that year the Bulgar Khan Telerig decided to strike back to the southwest and sent a small raiding army of 12 000 to capture Berzitia The Byzantine emperor was informed of the raid in due time by his spies in Pliska and gathered an enormous force The Byzantines surprised the Bulgarian army and after a long fight they managed to defeat them due to their greater superiority in the number of soldiers Constantine V was eager to follow up his success and led another campaign against the Bulgars but once again it failed However Telerig learned during this event that all his plans were known to Constantine through a network of spies within his government He decided to eliminate them once and for all and sent a message to Constantine stating that he was going to flee in exile to Constantinople In exchange Telerig asked the emperor to reveal the spies to his associates in Pliska for their own safety As Telerig was not the first ruler to flee to Constantinople Constantine revealed his information and sent the Bulgarian government the list of spies however Telerig deceived him and did not travel to Constantinople When Telerig learned of their names he executed them all and eliminated the Byzantine spy network within his government 8 References edit a b Jordan Andreev Milcho Lalkov Blgarskite hanove i care Veliko Trnovo 1996 c 41 Michael Palairet Macedonia A Voyage through History Vol 1 From Ancient Times to the Ottoman Invasions Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2016 ISBN 1443888435 p 174 Dennis P Hupchick The Bulgarian Byzantine Wars for Early Medieval Balkan Hegemony Silver Lined Skulls and Blinded Armies Springer 2017 ISBN 3319562061 p 59 Zlatarski V Istoriya na blgarskata drzhava prez srednite vekove tom I chast 1 Izd Nauka i izkustvo Sofiya 1970 str 304 Panos Sophoulis Byzantium and Bulgaria 775 831 Volume 16 of East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages 450 1450 BRILL 2011 ISBN 9004206957 pp 94 95 Ilse Rochow Byzantium in the 8th century in the view of Theophanes source critical historical come to the Jahven 715 813 Volume 57 of Berlin Byzantine works Akad Verlag 1991 ISBN 3050007001 p 215 Karl Krumbacher Byzantinische Zeitschrift Volumes 65 66 Walter de Gruyter amp Co G G Teubner 1971 p 392 John V A Fine Jr 1991 The Early Medieval Balkans A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century p 77 ISBN 978 0 472 08149 3Sources editFlorin Curta 31 August 2006 Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages 500 1250 Cambridge University Press pp 88 ISBN 978 0 521 81539 0 Further reading editStoyanov Aleksandr July 2019 The Size of Bulgaria s Medieval Field Armies A Case Study of Military Mobilization Capacity in the Middle Ages Journal of Military History 83 3 719 746 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Litosoria amp oldid 1186852902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
