battle battle fought byzantine army army including allied bulgarian contingents preceding years ruler conquered bulgaria menacing byzantium force advancing constantinople met force having fewer men prepared ambush attacked army portion force byzantines retreat succeeded drawing contingent ambush routing remainder army panicked fled suffered heavy casualties pursuing byzantines battle important bought time byzantine emperor settle internal problems assemble large expedition eventually defeated year background bulgarian embassy visited byzantine emperor constantinople receive annual tribute agreed powers price peace flush self confident series victories arabs east led recovery crete cyprus refused comply envoys beat followed military strength sending small force number bulgarian border posts clear declaration war forces largely preoccupied east emperor turned traditional byzantine turning peoples living north modern day ukraine bulgaria sent ambassador ruler byzantines maintained close relations enthusiastically responded invaded bulgaria devastating raid returning home defend capital attack forced bulgarian peter negotiating table agreeing terms favourable byzantium brief awakened desire conquer bulgaria establish realm returned force july august conquered country months scheme dramatically instead peace new formidable foe appeared balkans large bulgarian nobility appeared prince emperor murdered december fell successor deal threat turned sights byzantium john peace allegedly answered empire abandon european territories withdraw asia minor preoccupied consolidating position unrest powerful clan adherents delegated war balkans brother law domestic peter winter raise army whilst sending spies discover intentions news powerful force contingent sent south major bulgarian stronghold modern bypassed heavily defended city turned constantinople size army comprised entirety forces division unclear instance implies entire army numbering incredible men contemporary leo reports detachment men conversely gives entire army whilst numbering faced byzantines clear byzantines considerably outnumbered force included significant numbers allied contingents turks battle quickly assembled force thousand men set meet armies met near modern west constantinople primary accounts byzantine differ battle leo reports sent scouting detachment ahead gave battle day later chronicle reports days men remained walls nearby refused come meet battle despite repeated challenges according quickly convinced imperial army afraid face consequently countryside neglected camp defences spent nights eventually set city divided forces groups divisions placed ambush wooded sides road leading camp probably men placed account went forth attack host byzantine detachment quickly came contact army charged contingent byzantines executed gradual orderly retreat turning intervals charge pursuing separated main body army conflict fierce bloody discipline endurance small byzantine force according point charged delivered sword blow helmet metal harm young brother constantine came rescue killing opposing forces reached place ambush ordered blown concealed byzantine divisions attacked flanks rear cut aid surrounded began panic flee leaders tried rally men attacked killed single sword blow reportedly cut head waist helmet loss commander turned battle complete rout panic spread bulgarian contingent following suffered heavy casualties general chaos byzantine casualties battle low speaks dead leo lost horses arrows losses force certainly lower leo claimed significant probably running thousands aftermath byzantines unable exploit victory pursue remnants army rose revolt men consequently withdrawn asia minor whilst restricted forces north spring year rebellion subdued head army advanced north bulgaria byzantines took bulgarian capital capturing bulgarian confined fortress month siege series pitched battles city walls conceded defeat abandoned bulgaria
Battle of Arcadiopolis (970)