Battle of Berzitia
Encyclopedia
The battle of Berzitia occurred in the fall of 774 near the town of Berzitia, Macedonia
. The result was a Byzantine
victory.
earlier that year, the Bulgarian
Khan Telerig
decided to strike back to the southwest and sent a small raiding army of 12,000 to capture Berzitia.
and gathered an enormous force. Near the town the Byzantines surprised the Bulgarian Army and after a long fight they managed to defeat them due to their much larger superiority in troops.
to Constantinople
. In exchange, Telerig asked the emperor to reveal the spies to his associates in Pliska for their own safety. As Telerig was not the first ruler to flee to Constantinople, Constantine revealed his information and sent the Bulgarian government the list of spies, however Telerig deceived him and did not travel to Constantinople. When Telerig learned of their names he executed them all and eliminated the Byzantine spy network within his government.
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
. The result was a Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
victory.
Origins of the conflict
After an unsuccessful campaign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VConstantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
earlier that year, the Bulgarian
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
Khan Telerig
Telerig of Bulgaria
Telerig was the ruler of Bulgaria 768–777.Although Telerig is first mentioned in the Byzantine sources in 774, he is considered the immediate successor of Pagan, who was murdered in 768...
decided to strike back to the southwest and sent a small raiding army of 12,000 to capture Berzitia.
The battle
The Byzantine emperor was informed for the raid in due time by his spies in PliskaPliska
Pliska is the name of both the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria and a small town which was renamed after the historical Pliska after its site was determined and excavations began....
and gathered an enormous force. Near the town the Byzantines surprised the Bulgarian Army and after a long fight they managed to defeat them due to their much larger superiority in troops.
Aftermath
Constantine V was eager to follow-up his success and lead another campaign against the Bulgarians, but once again it failed. However, Telerig learned during this event that all his plans were known to Constantine through a network of spies within his government. He decided to eliminate them once and for all and sent a message to Constantine, stating that he was going to flee in exileExile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. In exchange, Telerig asked the emperor to reveal the spies to his associates in Pliska for their own safety. As Telerig was not the first ruler to flee to Constantinople, Constantine revealed his information and sent the Bulgarian government the list of spies, however Telerig deceived him and did not travel to Constantinople. When Telerig learned of their names he executed them all and eliminated the Byzantine spy network within his government.