bulgarian greek july 14th century bulgarian local ruler initially member gang bulgaria byzantium serbia recruited byzantines mercenary involvement byzantine civil war played sides ruler large area western achieved initial successes turks byzantines alike setting turkish ships fire managing kill main opponents time despite defeated killed joint byzantine turkish army opposition turks remembered popular legend fighter turkish invasion balkans role byzantine civil war contemporary near contemporary accounts describe physically imposing appearance tall men words turkish poet resembling according contemporary source native border area serbs time mountains claim born region reinforced 15th century ottoman registers according popular male area exist legends tie birth particular place example village evidence case born humble origin main factor decision join band active scarcely governed border areas bulgaria byzantium serbia persecuted bulgarian authorities time fled byzantium accepted service emperor iii mercenary tasked protection territories previously plundered activities cease regularly raided bulgarian lands negatively impacted byzantine bulgarian relations byzantines deserted byzantine army fled serbia serve ruler serbia formed company trusted men serbs byzantine civil war joined forces known flight serbia beginning war wishes local population gave governance region virtual man land plagued nomadic slavic words appointment race favourably disposed lacking courage battle rate expert robbery governor gathered army cavalry infantry different considered able set byzantine war turkish forces assisted campaigns time approached agents opponents regency persuaded turn thinking turkish allies far away eastern attacked turkish fleet ships near sank overcame turkish force arrived exact retribution near fortress known plundered cities area refused surrender horsemen attacked set camp near horsemen protect byzantines thoroughly routed horse killed received powerful hit head survived thanks helmet captured men throne managed escape turmoil soon sent messages asking forgiveness open rear pardoned exchange promises future good conduct awarded title continued entertain parallel ties regency secured title ruler death summer finally broke parties byzantine_empire proclaimed independent ruler coast capturing cities villages appearing powerful invincible army captured capital domain bulgarian historian friendly relations bulgarian emperor shared lengthy border believes acted byzantines late spring reinforced allegedly troops ruler marched tried prevent asking pardon offering submit emperor refused armies met near july tried seek refuge city walls scholars debate actually held city shut men locals locals let cousin men hoped persuade vengeance city defeated opponents subsequent battle city walls forces ruined old fortifications line defence city walls foremost turkish troops crossed fortifications dealt bulgarian defenders began vicinity surprise majority men standing city walls participated skirmishes byzantine turkish force advanced defenders led troops ahead battle cavalry promptly eliminated turkish remaining troops surrounded sides heavily armed horsemen remaining men continued fight foot surrender perished respect spared wife bulgarian woman captured conquest allowed flee bulgaria property unknown children marriage previous presents hypothesis wife bulgarian capital married agreement bulgarian court popular culture bulgarian south slavic folklore general numerous songs epic tales defender people prominent fighter turks earliest heroic songs bulgarian folklore tradition deal exploits folklore material referred duke acts uncle legendary figure epic poetry fighter turks folklore version battle wife citizens blame death hand legendary sister described mother major influence town village southern bulgaria antarctica named life served basis opera piece named written bulgarian composer biography inspired children comic book lord tells largely version story
Momchil