Battle of Skopje
| date | 1004 |
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| place | Skopje , today's North Macedonia |
| output | Byzantine victory |
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| Commander | |
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The Battle of Skopje took place in 1004 on the outskirts of Skopje instead.
backgrounds
In 1003 the Byzantine emperor Basil II began a campaign against the First Bulgarian Empire . After eight months of siege, he was able to conquer the important Vidin fortress in northwest Bulgaria. The Bulgarian counter-strike in the opposite direction towards Odrin could not dissuade him from the siege. Only after conquering the fortress did he march south through the Morava valley , destroying the Bulgarian fortresses on his way. Finally, Basil reached Skopje, where he learned that the Bulgarian army was camping nearby on the other side of the Vardar .
battle
Samuil relied on the flood that the river led and made no serious attempts to secure his camp. The circumstances of the battle were very similar to those of the Battle of Spercheios seven years earlier, and the course of the battle was similar. The Byzantines were able to find a ford, crossed the river and attacked the surprised Bulgarians in the night. Since they were unable to build up effective resistance, the Bulgarians soon fled and left the camp, including Samuil's ruler's tent, behind.
consequences
The Byzantines could not take much advantage of their victory. They pillaged the surrounding area and then marched on to besiege Pernik . The siege ended in disaster and Basil II was forced to return to Constantinople.
Individual evidence
- Йордан Андреев, Милчо Лалков, Българските ханове и царе, Велико Търново, 1996.