Battle of Setina
Battle of Setina | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars | |||||||
John Harris Valda: Basil II at battle near Setania (Setina) in 1017 | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Bulgarian Empire | Byzantine Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ivan Vladislav |
Basil II Constantine Diogenes | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown 200 captured | Unknown |
The battle of Setina (
. The result was a Byzantine victory.Prelude
In 1014, after decades of war, the Byzantine Emperor
The war in 1017
In 1017 Basil II invaded Bulgaria with a large army including Rus' mercenaries. His objective was the town of Kastoria which controlled the road between Thessaly and the coast of modern Albania. He sent parts of his army under the commanders Constantine Diogenes and David Arianites to loot Pelagonia. Basil II himself managed to capture several minor Bulgarian castles but all attempts to seize Kastoria remained futile.[5][6]
Meanwhile, the governor of Pernik and Sofia Krakra gathered troops to attack north-eastern Bulgaria which was under Byzantine control since 1001. He had orders by Ivan Vladislav to negotiate with the Pechenegs a joint campaign against the Byzantines. Upon hearing word of the negotiations, Basil II retreated from Kastoria. However, the Bulgarian counter-attack towards Moesia did not take place after the Pechenegs' refusal to back it. Basil II again invaded Bulgaria and took the small fortress of Setina located between Ostrovo and Bitola to the south of the river Cherna.[5][6]
The Bulgarians under the command of Ivan Vladislav marched to the Byzantine camp. Basil II sent strong units under Diogenes to repulse the Bulgarians but the troops of the Byzantine commander were ambushed and cornered. To save Diogenes, the 60-year-old Byzantine Emperor moved on with the rest of his army. When the Bulgarians understood that they retreated chased by Diogenes. According to the Byzantine historian John Skylitzes the Bulgarians had many casualties and 200 were taken prisoners.[5][6][7]
Aftermath
The battle of Setina had no effect on the outcome of the war. In January 1018 Basil II withdrew to his capital
See also
- Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
- Battle of Kleidion
References
- ^ Златарски, В., История на българската държава през средните векове, Том I, Част II, София 1971, с. 693-697 (взето на 25.1.2008)
- ^ Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 705-710, 716-717 (25.1.2008)
- ^ Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 713-716 (25.1.2008)
- ^ Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 717, 725 (25.1.2008)
- ^ a b c Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 725-728 (взето на 17.1.2008)
- ^ a b c Гръцки извори за българската история - ГИБИ, том VI, с. 289-290 (17.1.2008)
- ^ Runciman, S., A history of the First Bulgarian Empire, , London 1930, pp. 247-248 (25.1.2008)
- ^ Кратка история на България, Изд. "Наука и изкуство", София 1983, с. 74-75
- ^ Runciman, S., A history of the First Bulgarian Empire, pp. 248-252 (25.1.2008)