bulgarian fought march outskirts constantinople forces byzantine_empire byzantine bulgarian war battle took place locality called spring named nearby byzantine lines collapsed bulgarian attack commanders fled battlefield subsequent rout byzantine soldiers killed sword drowned captured continued successful campaigns capturing number towns fortresses including important city june engaged defeated byzantine army constantinople confirming bulgarian domination balkans constantinople remained outside reach bulgaria lacked naval power launch successful siege attempts bulgarian emperor negotiate joint bulgarian arab assault city uncovered byzantine countered primary sources battle continuation john synopsis histories origins conflict byzantine bulgarian conflict began provoked byzantines bulgarian monarch seeking pretext wage war ambitions claim imperial title assume throne constantinople unable confront byzantines reluctantly recognized emperor bulgaria bulgarian early july decision revoked palace coup constantinople years later main byzantine forces routed took military initiative year followed launched number successful campaigns reaching walls constantinople planned secure position constantinople marriage daughter infant emperor constantine vii father law guardian constantine vii admiral married daughter constantine vii proclaimed senior emperor ambitions ascend throne diplomatic means death bulgarian monarch recognized legitimacy accession throne beginning reply proposal patriarch daughters sons sent army reaching outskirts constantinople campaign reached town near modern army ambushed destroyed battle byzantine campaign threat letter numerous byzantine troops preparing invade bulgaria caused act quickly ordered large army minister head constantinople prepared host capital marched swiftly reached locality spring outskirts constantinople beginning march concerned burn palaces sent sufficient troops domestic schools brother admiral byzantine army composed troops imperial guard navy armies clashed fifth week great lent march byzantine commanders formed battle lines near springs occupied higher ground charged battle cry initial blow irresistible byzantine lines broke john immediately fled certain son killed trying protect john barely escaped aboard fled armour drowned attempting board ship brothers managed find shelter nearby fortress subsequent rout byzantine soldiers killed sword drowned captured battle burned palaces looted area north opposite shore walls constantinople aftermath bulgarian army operated successfully vicinity constantinople preparing major campaign leaving capital sent letter patriarch rebuffed proposal marriage family insisted peace possible condition renounce byzantine throne favour bulgarian monarch denied accusations responsible terrible war instead blamed rebuffed proposal daughter constantine vii attacked bulgaria head army marched valley river besieged bulk bulgarian forces concentrated byzantines serbian prince bulgarian protégé switch sides answered successful intervention serbia easily gained control country placed power bulgarian candidate conflict serbia distracted bulgarian military operations byzantine_empire rest renewed offensive divert byzantines clandestine negotiations form bulgarian arab alliance joint assault constantinople remained siege army sent byzantine capital june engaged defeated byzantine army weeks later surrendered meantime byzantines captured ship bulgarian envoys way bulgaria learned negotiations
Battle of Pegae