Battle of Versinikia

Battle of Versinikia
	Part of the Byzantine–Bulgarian wars
	; Bulgaria under Khan Krum including the most important campaigns and battles
Date	22 June 813
Location	North of Adrianople, near Malomirovo (today Bulgaria)
Result	Bulgarian victory Abdication of Michael I Rangabe;
Belligerents
Bulgarian Empire	Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Kanasubigi Krum	Michael I Rangabe
Strength
6,000–7,000 or 12,000	20,000–30,000; 30,000–36,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	2,000–3,000

The Battle of Versinikia (Bulgarian: Битката при Версиникия; Greek: Μάχη της Βερσινικίας) was a battle fought in 813 between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire, near the city of Adrianople (Edirne), in modern-day Turkey.

The Bulgarian army, led by Krum of Bulgaria, defeated the Byzantine forces. Following the defeat, Michael I Rangabe abdicated, with Leo V the Armenian taking the Byzantine throne.^[6] The battle served to solidify the Bulgarian position after their victory over Nikephoros I two years earlier. After the battle, the Bulgars controlled the whole region of Eastern Thrace (until the Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty of 815), with the exception of a few castles that remained in Byzantine control. Krum at the height of his assembly for the final siege of Constantinople died on 13 April 814, but his muster of: "5,000 iron-plated wagons [ . . . ] to carry the siege equipment."^[7] Terrified the court of the Byzantines to such an effect that they pleaded for the aid of the Carolingian Emperor Louis the Pious;^[8]^[9] These extensive preparations were Krum's attempt to avenge his impotent failure at the Second Bulgarian Siege of Constantinople one year prior.

^ Panos, p. 37
^ ^a ^b Haldon 2001, pp. 76–77
^ Panos, p. 237
^ Hupchick, p. 96
^ Hupchick, p. 101
^ LUTTWAK, EDWARD N. (2009-11-15). The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire. Harvard University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctvjhzrf5. ISBN 978-0-674-05420-2.
^ Božilov, Ivan (1999). Božilov, Ivan; Gjuzelev, Vasil (eds.). Istorija na srednovekovna Bălgarija: VII - XIV vek [History of medieval Bulgaria: VII - XIV century]. Istorija na Bălgarija : v tri toma (Izd. 1 ed.). Sofija: Izdat. Kăšta Anubis. p. 138. ISBN 978-954-426-204-4.
^ Fine, John Van Antwerp (1987). The Late medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the twelfth century to the Ottoman conquest. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-472-10079-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^ Božilov, Ivan (1999). Božilov, Ivan; Gjuzelev, Vasil (eds.). Istorija na srednovekovna Bălgarija: VII - XIV vek [History of medieval Bulgaria: VII - XIV century]. Istorija na Bălgarija : v tri toma (Izd. 1 ed.). Sofija: Izdat. Kăšta Anubis. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-954-426-204-4.

[1] Panos, p. 37

[Haldon76-2] Haldon 2001, pp. 76–77

[3] Panos, p. 237

[4] Hupchick, p. 96

[5] Hupchick, p. 101

[6] LUTTWAK, EDWARD N. (2009-11-15). The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire. Harvard University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctvjhzrf5. ISBN 978-0-674-05420-2.

[7] Božilov, Ivan (1999). Božilov, Ivan; Gjuzelev, Vasil (eds.). Istorija na srednovekovna Bălgarija: VII - XIV vek [History of medieval Bulgaria: VII - XIV century]. Istorija na Bălgarija : v tri toma (Izd. 1 ed.). Sofija: Izdat. Kăšta Anubis. p. 138. ISBN 978-954-426-204-4.

[8] Fine, John Van Antwerp (1987). The Late medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the twelfth century to the Ottoman conquest. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-472-10079-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[9] Božilov, Ivan (1999). Božilov, Ivan; Gjuzelev, Vasil (eds.). Istorija na srednovekovna Bălgarija: VII - XIV vek [History of medieval Bulgaria: VII - XIV century]. Istorija na Bălgarija : v tri toma (Izd. 1 ed.). Sofija: Izdat. Kăšta Anubis. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-954-426-204-4.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]