Marmais
Encyclopedia
Marmais (died 924) was a Bulgarian
military commander, noble and komita (duke) of a western Bulgarian region (Sredets
or Macedonia
) during the reign of Emperor Simeon I
(893–927). He was a descendant of an ancient Bulgarian family. He participated actively in the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
but he is better known for his interference and campaigns against the Serb principality of Raška
.
In 917 the Serb prince Petar Gojniković, who was an ally of the Bulgarian Emperor openly changed sides and supported the Byzantines
. This danger from the rear played a significant role for the delay of the advance towards Constantinople
after the striking victory at Anchialus. In the fall of that year Simeon sent a punitive expedition
force against the Serbs, led by Theodore Sigritsa
and Marmais. They convinced Petar Gojniković to meet them, captured him and sent him to Preslav
. They pointed Peter's cousin Pavle Branović for the next ruler of Raška but three years later he also betrayed his alliance with Bulgaria
. Marmais changed him with Zaharije Pribisavljević but he also started hostile actions against Bulgaria in 924. Marmais and Sigritsa lead a small army against him but they were ambushed and defeated, and their heads were later sent to the Byzantines.
The death of Marmais caused a major campaign against the Serb principality which was totally defeated and turned into Bulgarian province in the same 924.
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:...
military commander, noble and komita (duke) of a western Bulgarian region (Sredets
Sredets
Sredets is a town in southeastern Bulgaria, part of Burgas Province, located in the proximity of Lake Mandrensko and the northern slopes of Strandzha. During the Ottoman rule it was known as Karabunar and later as Grudovo ....
or Macedonia
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...
) during the reign of Emperor Simeon I
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...
(893–927). He was a descendant of an ancient Bulgarian family. He participated actively in the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
The Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars were a series of conflicts fought between the Byzantines and Bulgarians which began when the Bulgars first settled in the Balkan peninsula in the 5th century, and intensified with the expansion of the Bulgarian Empire to the southwest after 680 AD...
but he is better known for his interference and campaigns against the Serb principality of Raška
Raška (state)
Principality of Serbia or Serbian Principality was an early medieval state of the Serbs ruled by the Vlastimirović dynasty, that existed from ca 768 to 969 in Southeastern Europe. It was established through an unification of several provincial chiefs under the supreme rule of a certain Višeslav,...
.
In 917 the Serb prince Petar Gojniković, who was an ally of the Bulgarian Emperor openly changed sides and supported 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...
. This danger from the rear played a significant role for the delay of the advance towards 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:...
after the striking victory at Anchialus. In the fall of that year Simeon sent a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
force against the Serbs, led by Theodore Sigritsa
Theodore Sigritsa
Theodore Sigritsa was a Bulgarian military commander and noble, kavkhan of Emperor Simeon I The Great ....
and Marmais. They convinced Petar Gojniković to meet them, captured him and sent him 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...
. They pointed Peter's cousin Pavle Branović for the next ruler of Raška but three years later he also betrayed his alliance with 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...
. Marmais changed him with Zaharije Pribisavljević but he also started hostile actions against Bulgaria in 924. Marmais and Sigritsa lead a small army against him but they were ambushed and defeated, and their heads were later sent to the Byzantines.
The death of Marmais caused a major campaign against the Serb principality which was totally defeated and turned into Bulgarian province in the same 924.