Medieval Bulgarian navy

Preslav

During most of the

Omurtag: during his war against the Franks (827-829) he came with ships from the Danube

and landed troops in the rear of the Franks.

The first organised Bulgarian navy was built under Emperor

Principality of Karvuna in the late 14th century. The Bulgarian fleet took part in successful actions against the Genoese and the Turks with its range reaching Crimea and Trebizond

.

The main

overran

the country.

Military actions

Too little is known for the battles and quests of the Navy and the Coast Guard. In 812 Khan

Preslav. In 1235 Ivan Asen II sent 25 large galleys to help the Nicean emperor in the siege of Constantinople. In the beginning of 1257 the Latin Empire hired a fleet of 10 Venetian galleys and on 14 June they captured Nessebar after a short siege but could not achieve anything more.^[1] In the late 14th century Dobrotitsa used the Navy to put his cousin on the Trebizond throne and later lead a war against Genoa which lasted to 1387 when his son Ivanco settled a favourable peace. In 1366 Amadeus VI of Savoy lost several ships during the siege of Varna

.

Ship design

During the First Empire the ships designed for both sea and river sailing. They had small draught and good maritime qualities. The ships had very high bows and sterns, 10-15 paddles on each board and one mast. The battle ships had a battering ram in their front.

During the

Mediterranean (triangular sails) and North Sea

ships (helm was used instead of stern paddles for better navigation). The ships were 25–30 meters long and 6–7 meters wide and had one or two masts.

References

Porožanov, Kalin. "Moreto v politikata i kulturata na Srednovekovna Bǎlgarija". Buditel (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2007-03-25.

Footnotes

^ Bulgarie, Venise et l'Empire latin de Constantinople au milieu du XIIIe siecle, 1975, No4

[1] Bulgarie, Venise et l'Empire latin de Constantinople au milieu du XIIIe siecle, 1975, No4

[1]