invasion bulgaria invasion bulgaria refers conflict beginning ending carried eastern balkans involving bulgaria byzantine_empire byzantines encouraged ruler attack bulgaria leading defeat bulgarian forces occupation northern north eastern country following years allies turned ensuing military confrontation ended byzantine victory withdrew eastern bulgaria incorporated byzantine_empire peace treaty signed bulgaria byzantium ending years warfare establishing years peace states prospered interlude balance power gradually shifted favour byzantines great territorial gains east formed web alliances surrounding bulgaria new byzantine emperor refused renew annual tribute peace agreement declared war bulgaria preoccupied campaigns east resolved fight war invited ruler invade bulgaria subsequent campaign greatly exceeded expectations byzantines regarded means exert diplomatic pressure prince conquered core regions bulgarian state northeastern balkans seized bulgarian effectively ruled country intended continue drive south byzantium turn regarded establishment new powerful russo bulgarian state balkans great concern stopping advance battle byzantine emperor led army north bulgaria captured capital month siege fortress agreed terms byzantines withdrew bulgaria formally annexed eastern bulgaria byzantine_empire country central western balkans remained effect outside imperial control lead revival bulgarian state regions dynasty background beginning 10th century powers come dominate balkans byzantine_empire controlled south peninsula coasts held central northern balkans early decades century dominated expanded empire byzantium expense series wars secured recognition imperial title death soon followed powers treaty marriage alliance later year second son successor peter married maria granddaughter byzantine emperor imperial title recognized annual tribute byzantines termed maria save face agreed paid bulgarian ruler exchange peace agreement kept years peaceful relations suited sides bulgaria despite barrier formed danube northern reaches peoples launched raids bulgaria occasionally reaching byzantine territory byzantine bulgarian peace meant trouble north raids sponsored byzantines peter reign lacking military golden age bulgaria economy thriving urban society byzantium peace focus energy wars east series campaigns generals greatly expanded imperial territory time military reforms created effective oriented army byzantines neglect balkans working steadily improve contacts peoples central eastern europe subtly altering balance power peninsula outpost maintained trade emerging power byzantine missionaries led slavic princes western balkans came acknowledge empire particularly ended bulgarian control serbia relationships periphery important asset byzantine diplomacy attacks bulgaria time honoured method applying pressure sudden death emperor throne infant sons senior emperor prominent member military aristocracy focused east leading army personally campaigns recovered cyprus things stood bulgarian embassy visited late early collect tribute owed confidence boosted recent successes deeming bulgarian ruler demand refused pay claiming empress maria recent death obligations ceased envoys beaten sent home threats insults proceeded troops staged elaborate parade display military strength sacked bulgarian border forts decision effect breach relations bulgaria response recent treaty peter signed treaty stipulated allowed pass country raid byzantium exchange halting raids bulgaria anxious avoid war sent sons roman hostages constantinople failed able willing campaign bulgaria forces engaged east furthermore drawing byzantines past experience reluctant mount expedition mountainous heavily forested terrain bulgaria consequently resorted old byzantine calling tribe eastern europe attack bulgaria late early dispatched citizen ambassador ruler byzantines long maintained close relations bound treaty promises rich rewards according payment pounds gold ruler induced attack bulgaria north aid unusual traditionally tasks historian examined questions surrounding background chronology bulgarian campaign suggested second motive turning attention recently destroyed away byzantine outpost enthusiastically agreed byzantine proposal august crossed danube bulgarian territory defeated bulgarian army men battle occupied according bulgarian historian seized towns northeastern bulgaria looted destroyed permanently occupied suffered stroke received news defeat retreated fortress year left army counter attack capital byzantines according time sent new embassy byzantium visit recorded contrast previous reception time bulgarian envoys treated great honour confident position demanded harsh terms peter resign replaced young emperors married bulgarian daughters peter retired monastery died released byzantine custody recognized moment appeared plan worked brief south awakened desire conquer fertile rich lands intention apparently encouraged byzantine envoy imperial crown defeating set rule russia absence turned sights southward summer returned bulgaria force accompanied allied contingents absence recovered bulgarian defenders determined fight stormed city roman rapidly established control eastern northern bulgaria placing garrisons bulgarian capital continued reside exercise nominal authority vassal reality little retained order bulgarian resentment reaction presence appears successful enlisting bulgarian support bulgarian soldiers joined army considerable numbers tempted partly prospects booty anti byzantine designs probably shared slavic heritage ruler careful new subjects forbade army looting countryside cities surrendered peacefully scheme instead weak bulgaria new nation established empire northern border showed intention continuing advance south byzantium emperor tried resume war proposals december murdered palace coup succeeded fell task dealing situation balkans new emperor sent envoys proposing negotiations ruler demanded huge sum withdraw insisting empire abandon european territories withdraw asia minor time preoccupied consolidating position unrest powerful clan adherents entrusted war balkans brother law domestic peter early army large contingents crossed headed south stormed city according surviving inhabitants army men confronted advance near early spring byzantine general army considerably outnumbered retreat draw contingent away main army prepared ambush main army panicked fled suffering heavy casualties hands pursuing byzantines withdrew north balkan mountain range gave time deal internal unrest assemble forces byzantine offensive occupied suppressing revolt year forces early campaign moving troops asia gathering supplies siege equipment byzantine navy accompanied expedition tasked carrying troops effect landing enemy rear cut retreat danube emperor chose easter week catching completely surprise passes balkan mountains left busy suppressing bulgarian revolts suggests peace agreement concluded battle byzantine army led person numbering advanced quickly reached army defeated battle city walls byzantines proceeded lay siege bulgarian garrison noble determined resistance city stormed april captives family brought constantinople bulgarian imperial main force withdrew imperial army feared bulgarian uprising bulgarian nobles executed imprisoned imperial army advanced bulgarian garrisons forts strongholds way surrendered peacefully byzantines neared came army deployed field city ready battle long bitter struggle byzantines won day ordered heavy cavalry advance quickly broke ranks fled inside fortress subsequent siege lasted months byzantines blockaded city land sea attempted pitched battles fought ended byzantine victories final particularly savage battle late july forced according byzantine time army originally remained met agreed peace treaty army allowed depart leaving captives trading rights affirmed exchange oath attack imperial territory long peace settlement slain way home ambush river aftermath outcome war complete byzantine victory decided advantage initially recognized legitimate bulgarian fall intentions changed evident return constantinople emperor entered golden gate wagon carrying icon virgin mary bulgarian family following procession reached publicly imperial insignia church bulgarian crown dedicated god marked symbolic end bulgaria independent state byzantine eyes byzantine generals installed eastern parts country danube renamed honour emperor renamed believed intervened final battle reduced bulgarian subject patriarch constantinople brought bulgarian royal family nobles live constantinople asia minor region settled outside eastern bulgaria major urban centres byzantine control existed theory like interested east threat banished bulgaria seemingly attention turned syria coordinated byzantine drive secure interior balkans result north central balkans macedonia troops ventured remained hands local bulgarian areas bulgarian resistance emerged taking advantage byzantine civil wars death led sons count comes nicholas known sons count capable samuel revived bulgarian realm centered macedonia crowned formidable warrior led raiding campaigns byzantine territory far south engaged byzantine emperor series wars resulting final conquest bulgarian state byzantines events byzantines regard rebel imperial authority let principle equality enjoyed bulgarian rulers
Sviatoslav's invasion of Bulgaria