Battle of Salonica (2nd 1040)
Encyclopedia
The battle of Salonica took place in the fall of 1040 near the city of Thessaloniki
(Salonica) in contemporary Greece
between the Bulgarians
and the Byzantines
. The battle ended with a Byzantine victory.
which broke out in the beginning of 1040 in Belgrade
soon reached Armenia
where many Bulgarian
nobles were resettled after the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire
in 1018. The most influential from these was Alusian
, the second son of the last Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Vladislav
(1015–1018). Dressed as a mercenary soldier he went to Constantinople
from where he managed to get to Bulgaria
despite the strict control.
welcomed his cousin although he knew that Alusian might be a potential candidate for his crown. Peter II gave Alusian 40,000 army to attack Thessaloniki, the second largest city in the Byzantine Empire
.
Alusian proved to be an incapable general: when he reached the city he attacked the Byzantine army with his tired troops. The Bulgarians could not fight effectively and were defeated. They suffered heavy casualties - 15,000 perished in the battle. Alusian fled from the battlefield leaving his arms behind.
Although blind Peter II Delyan faced the Byzantines with the rest of the Bulgarian army but was defeated in the battle of Ostrovo
later that year and the uprising was crushed.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
(Salonica) in contemporary Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
between the Bulgarians
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:...
and the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. The battle ended with a Byzantine victory.
Origins of the conflict
The news for the successes of the uprising of Peter DelyanBulgarian uprising against the Byzantine Empire (1040-1041)
The Uprising of Peter Delyan , which took place in 1040-1041, was a major Bulgarian rebellion against the Byzantine Empire. It was the largest and best-organised attempt to restore the former Bulgarian Empire until the rebellion of Ivan Asen I and Petar IV in 1185.-Prerequisites for the...
which broke out in the beginning of 1040 in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
soon reached Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
where many 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:...
nobles were resettled after the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
in 1018. The most influential from these was Alusian
Alusian of Bulgaria
Alusian was a Bulgarian and Byzantine noble who ruled as emperor of Bulgaria for a short time in 1041.-Life:Alusian was the second son of Emperor Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria by his wife Maria...
, the second son of the last Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Vladislav
Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria
Ivan Vladislav ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from August or September 1015 to February 1018. The year of his birth is unknown, but he was born at least a decade before 987, but probably not much earlier than that....
(1015–1018). Dressed as a mercenary soldier he went 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:...
from where he managed to get to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
despite the strict control.
The battle
His arrival would mean more tensions in the rebel camp because Alusian could also claim the throne and he kept his origin in secret until he found supporters. Peter II DelyanPeter Delyan
Peter Delyan was the leader of the local Bulgarian uprising against the Byzantine rule, started in the Theme of Bulgaria during summer of 1040. He was proclaimed Tsar of Bulgaria, as Samuel`s grandson in Belgrade...
welcomed his cousin although he knew that Alusian might be a potential candidate for his crown. Peter II gave Alusian 40,000 army to attack Thessaloniki, the second largest city in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
Alusian proved to be an incapable general: when he reached the city he attacked the Byzantine army with his tired troops. The Bulgarians could not fight effectively and were defeated. They suffered heavy casualties - 15,000 perished in the battle. Alusian fled from the battlefield leaving his arms behind.
Aftermath
The catastrophe at Thessalonike worsened the relations between Peter Delyan and Alusian. The later was ashamed from the defeat and Delyan suspected a treason. Alusian decided to act first and after a feast in the beginning of 1041 he blinded the Emperor. After that he tried to continue the rebellion but was defeated once more and he decided to change sides and abandoned his army. His betrayal was richly rewarded.Although blind Peter II Delyan faced the Byzantines with the rest of the Bulgarian army but was defeated in the battle of Ostrovo
Battle of Ostrovo
The Battle of Ostrovo occurred in 1041 near Ostrovo, an area close to the lake of the same name in modern northern Greece. In 1040 Peter Delyan led an uprising against the Byzantines and was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria...
later that year and the uprising was crushed.