Battle of Tryavna
Encyclopedia
The battle of Tryavna occurred in 1190 in the mountains around the contemporary town of Tryavna
, central Bulgaria
. The result was a Bulgarian
victory over the Byzantine Empire
, which secured the successes achieved since the beginning of the Rebellion of Asen and Peter in 1185.
and the fruitless siege of Lovech
in 1187 the Byzantine
Emperor Isaac II Angelos
was forced to conclude a truce thus de facto
recognizing the independence of Bulgaria. Until 1189, both sides observed the truce. The Bulgarians
used this time to further organize their administration and military. When the soldiers of the Third Crusade
reached the Bulgarian lands at Niš
, Asen and Peter offered to help the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
Frederick I Barbarosa
with a force of 40,000 against the Byzantines. However, the relations between the Crusaders
and the Byzantines smoothed and the Bulgarian proposal was evaded.
. They made a feint indicating that they would pass near the sea by Pomorie
but instead headed to the west and passed through the Rishki Pass to Preslav
. The Byzantine army next marched westwards to besiege the capital at Tarnovo. At the same time, the Byzantine fleet reached the Danube
in order to bar the way of Cuman auxiliaries from the northern Bulgarian territories.
The siege of Tarnovo was unsuccessful. The defense of the city was led by Asen himself and the morale of his troops was very high. The Byzantine morale, however, was quite low for several reasons: the lack of any military success, heavy casualties and particularly the fact that the soldiers' pay was in arrears. This was used by Asen, who sent an agent in the guise of a deserter to the Byzantine camp. The man told Isaac II that, despite the efforts of the Byzantine navy, an enormous Cuman army had passed the river Danube and was heading towards Tarnovo to relive the siege. The Byzantine Emperor panicked and immediately called for a retreat through the nearest pass.
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The Bulgarian Emperor deduced that his opponent would go through the Tryavna Pass. The Byzantine army marched southwards, and their troops and baggage stretched for kilometers. The Bulgarians reached the pass before them and staged an ambush from the heights of a narrow gorge. The Byzantine vanguard concentrated their attack on the centre where the Bulgarian leaders were positioned. Once the two forces met, and hand to hand combat had begun, Bulgarians stationed on the heights showered the Byzantine force below with rocks and Arrows. In panic, the Byzantine force broke up and began a disorganized retreat, prompting a Bulgarian charge. The Bulgarians slaughtered everyone on their way. Isaac II Angelos, the Byzantine Emperor, barely escaped; his guards had to cut a path through their own soldiers, enabling their commander's flight from the rout. The Byzantine historian Nikita Chroniates wrote that only Isaac Angelos escaped and most of the others perished.
The battle was a major catastrophe for the Byzantines. The victorious army captured the Imperial treasure of Byzantium including the golden helmet of the Byzantine Emperors, the crown and the Imperial Cross which was considered the most valuable possession of the Byzantine rulers - a solid gold reliquary
containing a piece of the Holy Cross
. It was thrown in the river by a Byzantine cleric but was recovered by the Bulgarians. These trophies later became the pride of the Bulgarian Treasure and were carried around the capital, Tarnovo, during official occasions.
but after the major successes of his brother he gave the power to his smaller brother Asen who was proclaimed Emperor later that year. Officially, Peter preserved his title and ruled from Preslav but the state now governed by Ivan Asen I. In the next two years, he liberated many lands to the west and south-west including Sofia
and Niš. His troops looted Thrace
and the Byzantines were powerless to resist the Bulgarian attacks.
Tryavna
Tryavna is a town in central Bulgaria, situated in the north slopes of the Balkan range, on the Tryavna river valley, near Gabrovo. It is famous for its textile industry and typical National Revival architecture, featuring 140 cultural monuments, museums and expositions...
, central 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...
. The result was a Bulgarian
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
victory over 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...
, which secured the successes achieved since the beginning of the Rebellion of Asen and Peter in 1185.
Origins of the conflict
After his second campaign in MoesiaMoesia
Moesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
and the fruitless siege of Lovech
Siege of Lovech
The Siege of Lovech took place in the spring of 1187 between the forces of Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire.- Origins of the conflict :In 1185, the brothers Asen and Peter led an uprising against the Byzantines to restore the Bulgarian Empire...
in 1187 the 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...
Emperor Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
was forced to conclude a truce thus de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
recognizing the independence of Bulgaria. Until 1189, both sides observed the truce. 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:...
used this time to further organize their administration and military. When the soldiers of the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
reached the Bulgarian lands at Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, Asen and Peter offered to help the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
Frederick I Barbarosa
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
with a force of 40,000 against the Byzantines. However, the relations between the Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
and the Byzantines smoothed and the Bulgarian proposal was evaded.
The battle
The Byzantines prepared a third campaign to revenge for the Bulgarian actions. Like the previous two invasions they managed to overcome the passes of the Balkan mountainsBalkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
. They made a feint indicating that they would pass near the sea by Pomorie
Pomorie
Pomorie is a town and seaside resort in southeastern Bulgaria, located on a narrow rocky peninsula in Burgas Bay on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is situated in Burgas Province, 20 km away from the city of Burgas and 18 km from the Sunny Beach resort. The ultrasaline lagoon...
but instead headed to the west and passed through the Rishki Pass to Preslav
Preslav
Preslav was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire from 893 to 972 and one of the most important cities of medieval Southeastern Europe. The ruins of the city are situated in modern northeastern Bulgaria, some 20 kilometres southwest of the regional capital of Shumen, and are currently a...
. The Byzantine army next marched westwards to besiege the capital at Tarnovo. At the same time, the Byzantine fleet reached the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
in order to bar the way of Cuman auxiliaries from the northern Bulgarian territories.
The siege of Tarnovo was unsuccessful. The defense of the city was led by Asen himself and the morale of his troops was very high. The Byzantine morale, however, was quite low for several reasons: the lack of any military success, heavy casualties and particularly the fact that the soldiers' pay was in arrears. This was used by Asen, who sent an agent in the guise of a deserter to the Byzantine camp. The man told Isaac II that, despite the efforts of the Byzantine navy, an enormous Cuman army had passed the river Danube and was heading towards Tarnovo to relive the siege. The Byzantine Emperor panicked and immediately called for a retreat through the nearest pass.
The battle was a major catastrophe for the Byzantines. The victorious army captured the Imperial treasure of Byzantium including the golden helmet of the Byzantine Emperors, the crown and the Imperial Cross which was considered the most valuable possession of the Byzantine rulers - a solid gold reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
containing a piece of the Holy Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
. It was thrown in the river by a Byzantine cleric but was recovered by the Bulgarians. These trophies later became the pride of the Bulgarian Treasure and were carried around the capital, Tarnovo, during official occasions.
Aftermath
The victory was very important for Bulgaria. Up to that moment, the official Emperor was Peter IVPeter IV of Bulgaria
Peter IV ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1185–1197. Together with his brother Asen he managed to restore the Bulgarian Empire after nearly 170 years of Byzantine domination.-Name:...
but after the major successes of his brother he gave the power to his smaller brother Asen who was proclaimed Emperor later that year. Officially, Peter preserved his title and ruled from Preslav but the state now governed by Ivan Asen I. In the next two years, he liberated many lands to the west and south-west including Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and Niš. His troops looted Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and the Byzantines were powerless to resist the Bulgarian attacks.