Uprising of Georgi Voiteh
Encyclopedia
The Uprising of Georgi Voiteh was a Bulgarian
uprising against the Byzantine Empire
in 1072. It was the second major attempt to restore the Bulgarian Empire
after the Uprising of Peter Delyan in 1040-1041.
The main prerequisites for the uprising were the weakness of Byzantium after the invasions of the Pechenegs in the lower Danube
, the great defeat at the hands of the Seljuk Turks in the battle of Manzikert
(1071) and the invasion of the Normans
from southern Italy as well as the rising taxes during the reign of Michael VII
. The uprising was prepared by the Bulgarian nobility in Skopje
led by Georgi Voiteh
. They chose the son of Serbian Prince of Duklja
Michael, Constantine Bodin as their leader, as he was a descendant of the Bulgarian Emperor Samuil. In the autumn of 1072 Constantine Bodin arrived at Prizren
where he was proclaimed Emperor of the Bulgarians under the name Peter III. The Serbian Prince sent 300 soldiers led by Vojvoda Petrilo
.
An army under Damianos Dalassenos was immediately sent from Constantinople
to help the strategos
of the Theme of Bulgaria, Nikephoros Karantenos
. In the battle that followed the Byzantine army was completely defeated. Dalassenos and other Byzantine commanders were captured and Skopie was taken by the Bulgarians troops.
After that success the rebels tried to expand the area under their control. Constantine Bodin headed north and reached Niš
. Because some Bulgarian towns with Byzantine garrisons did not surrender, they were burned down. Petrila marched southwards and captured Ohrid
and Devol
. However, near the town of Kastoria
his large army was defeated by the Byzantines and some Bulgarian commanders who did not want to acknowledge Peter III as their ruler.
Another army was sent from Constantinople under Michael Saronites. Saronites seized Skopie and in December 1072 he defeated the army of Constantine Bodin at a place known as Taonios (in the southern parts of Kosovo Polje
). Constantine Bodin and Georgi Voiteh were captured. The army which Prince Michael sent to relieve his son did not achieve anything because its commander, a Norman
mercenary defected to the Byzantines. The rebellion was finally crushed in 1073 by doux Nikephoros Bryennios
.
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:...
uprising against 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...
in 1072. It was the second major attempt to restore the 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...
after the Uprising of Peter Delyan in 1040-1041.
The main prerequisites for the uprising were the weakness of Byzantium after the invasions of the Pechenegs in the lower 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....
, the great defeat at the hands of the Seljuk Turks in the battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
(1071) and the invasion of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
from southern Italy as well as the rising taxes during the reign of Michael VII
Michael VII
Michael VII Doukas or Ducas , nicknamed Parapinakēs , was Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078.- Life :...
. The uprising was prepared by the Bulgarian nobility in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
led by Georgi Voiteh
Georgi Voiteh
Georgi Voiteh was a 11th century Bulgarian aristocrat from Skopje and the organizer of a major uprising against the Byzantine rule. He was from a Kavkhan family....
. They chose the son of Serbian Prince of Duklja
Duklja
Doclea or Duklja was a medieval state with hereditary lands roughly encompassing the territories of present-day southeastern Montenegro, from Kotor on the west to the river Bojana on the east and to the sources of Zeta and Morača rivers on the north....
Michael, Constantine Bodin as their leader, as he was a descendant of the Bulgarian Emperor Samuil. In the autumn of 1072 Constantine Bodin arrived at Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
where he was proclaimed Emperor of the Bulgarians under the name Peter III. The Serbian Prince sent 300 soldiers led by Vojvoda Petrilo
Vojvoda Petrilo
Vojvoda Petrilo was a 11th-century Serbian voivod of the Serbian King Constantine Bodin.Bodin was crowned as Emperor of Bulgaria in 1072 and was set to conquer the Byzantine territories of Bulgarian interest together with Georgi Voiteh Vojvoda Petrilo (Војвода Петрило) was a 11th-century Serbian...
.
An army under Damianos Dalassenos was immediately sent from 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:...
to help the strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of the Theme of Bulgaria, Nikephoros Karantenos
Nikephoros Karantenos
Nikephoros Karantenos, latinized as Nicephorus Carantenus , was a Byzantine general known for fighting against the Bulgarians in the Balkans and the Normans in Italy...
. In the battle that followed the Byzantine army was completely defeated. Dalassenos and other Byzantine commanders were captured and Skopie was taken by the Bulgarians troops.
After that success the rebels tried to expand the area under their control. Constantine Bodin headed north and reached 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,...
. Because some Bulgarian towns with Byzantine garrisons did not surrender, they were burned down. Petrila marched southwards and captured Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
and Devol
Devol
Devol can refer to:*George Devol, inventor of the first industrial robot*Frank Denny De Vol, sometimes known simply as DeVol, was an American arranger, composer and actor*Devol, Oklahoma*Devoll or Devolli, a river in southern Albania...
. However, near the town of Kastoria
Kastoria
Kastoria is a city in northern Greece in the periphery of West Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria peripheral unit. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains...
his large army was defeated by the Byzantines and some Bulgarian commanders who did not want to acknowledge Peter III as their ruler.
Another army was sent from Constantinople under Michael Saronites. Saronites seized Skopie and in December 1072 he defeated the army of Constantine Bodin at a place known as Taonios (in the southern parts of Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje or Fushë Kosova is a town and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo, at 42.63° North, 21.12° East, or approximately eight kilometres south-west of the capital Pristina...
). Constantine Bodin and Georgi Voiteh were captured. The army which Prince Michael sent to relieve his son did not achieve anything because its commander, a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
mercenary defected to the Byzantines. The rebellion was finally crushed in 1073 by doux Nikephoros Bryennios
Nikephoros Bryennios
Nikephoros Bryennios , Byzantine general, statesman and historian, was born at Orestias in the theme of Macedonia-Life:...
.
Sources
- Златарски, В. История на българската държава през средните векове, том II: България под византийско владичество, Издателство „Наука и изкуство“, София 1972 (цитирано по електронното издание в Книги за Македония, 10.8.2008)
- Павлов, Пл. Бунтари и авантюристи в Средновековна България, Издателство „Абагар“, Велико Търново 2000, ISBN 954-427-423-5 (глава Георги Войтех от "рода на кавканите" в електронното издание LiterNet, 2005)
- Литаврин, Г. Болгария и Византия в XI-XII вв., Издательство Академии наук СССР, Москва 1960