Battle of the Bosnian Highlands
Encyclopedia
In 927 a battle was fought in the Bosnian highlands between the armies of the two Balkan rulers of the time: Bulgarian Tsar Simeon I
, the great victor of the Battle of Anchialus over the Byzantine Empire
ten years earlier, and King Tomislav of Croatia, the first king of the Croatian state.
According to Theophanes Continuatus
(The Continuer of Theophanes's Chronicle) and other historians, the battle took place on May 27, 927 and was fought in the area of the highlands of Eastern Bosnia near the Drina River, the border area between the Kingdom of Croatia
and the Bulgarian Empire
.
The Bulgarian ruler, Simeon, was a wise and able man with a restless and insatiable spirit. He spent his entire life fighting battles with neighboring countries. His basic aim was to defeat the Byzantine Empire and conquer Byzantium. To achieve his aim, Simeon overran the eastern and central Balkans several times, occupied Serbia
and finally attacked Croatia.
(914-928) to send him an imperial crown and to recognize the head of the Bulgarian church as Patriarch. Naturally, Simeon had to promise to recognize the papal primacy in the Church. John X accepted Simeon's request and sent a solemn mission to Bulgaria, headed by Cardinal Madalbertus and John, illustrious Duke of Cumae. The papal mission reached Bulgaria at the end of summer or during the fall of 926, carrying a crown and scepter with which they would crown Simeon as Bulgarian Emperor.
When the papal mission arrived in Preslav
, Madalbertus started long negotiations with Simeon and the representatives of the Bulgarian church. Probably, Madalbertus convoked a church synod in Bulgaria as he later did in Split
, in Croatia, on his way back to Rome
in 928. The negotiations regarding ecclesiastical matters were successful, and Archbishop Leontius was created Patriarch in Preslav, still during Simeon's reign.
The reason might have been that Tomislav received and protected the Serbs
who were expelled by Simeon from Rascia
. In all probability, however, the main reason was that Simeon, if crowned by the Papal Legate, feared an attack from the Byzantine Emperor supported by Tomislav. Emperor Romanus Lecapenus won the friendship of Tomislav some years previously, handing over the Byzantine Dalmatia
to Tomislav and recognizing him as King of Croatia (Pope John X recognized Tomislav as King of Croatia in 925). During the summer of 926, Tomislav sent his troops to Italy
to expel Saracens from the city of Sipontus, which belonged to the Byzantine province of Langobardia. This event could have been a sufficient proof to Simeon that the Croats
took the side of the Byzantine Emperor and that they would support him actively in the future. Therefore, when in the next spring Simeon sent a great army against the Croats, Bulgarians were met by Tomislav's army in the mountainous region of Eastern Bosnia on May 27, 927.
The Croatian forces under the leadership of their king completely devastated the Bulgarian army. Key to Tomislav's triumph was likely the choice of terrain on which the battle took place: Croatian soldiers were probably more skilled in fighting in the mountainous terrain of the Bosnian highlands. The great military skill of the Croatian king and his cavalry was probably also a decisive factor against the Bulgarians.
Another consequence was, that a large part of Macedonia (theme) came again under Byzantine rule by a Peace agreement between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines in 927, because between these two events was a causal context.
Simeon I of Bulgaria
Simeon I the Great ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927, during the First Bulgarian Empire. Simeon's successful campaigns against the Byzantines, Magyars and Serbs led Bulgaria to its greatest territorial expansion ever, making it the most powerful state in contemporary Eastern Europe...
, the great victor of the Battle of Anchialus 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...
ten years earlier, and King Tomislav of Croatia, the first king of the Croatian state.
According to Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus or Scriptores post Theophanem is the Latin name commonly applied to a collection of historical writings preserved in the 11th-century Vat. gr. 167 manuscript. Its name derives from its role as the continuation, covering the years 813–961, of the chronicle of Theophanes the...
(The Continuer of Theophanes's Chronicle) and other historians, the battle took place on May 27, 927 and was fought in the area of the highlands of Eastern Bosnia near the Drina River, the border area between the Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)
The Kingdom of Croatia , also known as the Kingdom of the Croats , was a medieval kingdom covering most of what is today Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Balkans.Established in 925, it ruled as a sovereign state for almost two centuries...
and 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...
.
The Bulgarian ruler, Simeon, was a wise and able man with a restless and insatiable spirit. He spent his entire life fighting battles with neighboring countries. His basic aim was to defeat the Byzantine Empire and conquer Byzantium. To achieve his aim, Simeon overran the eastern and central Balkans several times, occupied Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and finally attacked Croatia.
Events preceding the war
After long wars and great success, capturing a larger part of the Byzantine territory in Europe, Simeon the Great was crowned at the church of Ohrid as "Tsar of all Bulgarians and Greeks" by the newly appointed Bulgarian patriarch 925. According to the juridical reasoning of the time, only the Pope and the Byzantine Emperor could bestow royal or imperial titles, and an emperor might be crowned only by a patriarch. Byzantine Emperor Romanus Lecapenus protested bitterly against Simeon's usurpation of the imperial title. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicholas Mysticus, did the same. In such a predicament, Simeon begged Pope John XPope John X
Pope John X, Pope from March 914 to May 928, was deacon at Bologna when he attracted the attention of Theodora, the wife of Theophylact, Count of Tusculum, the most powerful noble in Rome, through whose influence he was elevated first to the see of Bologna and then to the archbishopric of...
(914-928) to send him an imperial crown and to recognize the head of the Bulgarian church as Patriarch. Naturally, Simeon had to promise to recognize the papal primacy in the Church. John X accepted Simeon's request and sent a solemn mission to Bulgaria, headed by Cardinal Madalbertus and John, illustrious Duke of Cumae. The papal mission reached Bulgaria at the end of summer or during the fall of 926, carrying a crown and scepter with which they would crown Simeon as Bulgarian Emperor.
When the papal mission arrived in 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...
, Madalbertus started long negotiations with Simeon and the representatives of the Bulgarian church. Probably, Madalbertus convoked a church synod in Bulgaria as he later did in Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, in Croatia, on his way back to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 928. The negotiations regarding ecclesiastical matters were successful, and Archbishop Leontius was created Patriarch in Preslav, still during Simeon's reign.
Reasons for the war
Meanwhile, Simeon undertook imposing preparations for his crowning during the summer of 927. All of a sudden, he decided to wage a war against the Kingdom of Croatia.The reason might have been that Tomislav received and protected the Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
who were expelled by Simeon from Rascia
Rascia
Rascia was a medieval region that served as the principal province of the Serbian realm. It was an administrative division under the direct rule of the monarch and sometimes as an appanage. The term has been used to refer to various Serbian states throughout the Middle Ages...
. In all probability, however, the main reason was that Simeon, if crowned by the Papal Legate, feared an attack from the Byzantine Emperor supported by Tomislav. Emperor Romanus Lecapenus won the friendship of Tomislav some years previously, handing over the Byzantine Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
to Tomislav and recognizing him as King of Croatia (Pope John X recognized Tomislav as King of Croatia in 925). During the summer of 926, Tomislav sent his troops to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to expel Saracens from the city of Sipontus, which belonged to the Byzantine province of Langobardia. This event could have been a sufficient proof to Simeon that the Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
took the side of the Byzantine Emperor and that they would support him actively in the future. Therefore, when in the next spring Simeon sent a great army against the Croats, Bulgarians were met by Tomislav's army in the mountainous region of Eastern Bosnia on May 27, 927.
Battle
According to Byzantine historian Constantine Porphyrogenitus, King Tomislav was able to field an army of 100,000 foot soldiers, 60, 000 horse soldiers and 80 battleships (disputed). The strength of Simeon's army is unknown but was probably 30,000-70,000. The commander of the Bulgarian forces in this battle was Duke (Dux) Alogobotur.The Croatian forces under the leadership of their king completely devastated the Bulgarian army. Key to Tomislav's triumph was likely the choice of terrain on which the battle took place: Croatian soldiers were probably more skilled in fighting in the mountainous terrain of the Bosnian highlands. The great military skill of the Croatian king and his cavalry was probably also a decisive factor against the Bulgarians.
Aftermath
Fearing a Bulgarian retribution, Tomislav accepted to abandon his union with Byzantium and make peace on the basis of the status quo, negotiated by the papal legate Madalbert.Another consequence was, that a large part of Macedonia (theme) came again under Byzantine rule by a Peace agreement between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines in 927, because between these two events was a causal context.