Battle of Arcadiopolis (970)

The Battle of Arkadiopolis 970 was a battle between the Byzantines under commander Bardas Sclerosis and a coalition of Kievan Rus, Bulgars, Magyars and Pechenegs under the leadership of the Kiev Grand Prince Svyatoslav I. It took place at Arkadiopolis (today Lüleburgaz ) in eastern Thrace ( about 100 kilometers west of Constantinople Opel ) and ended with the victory of the Byzantines.

Background was the confrontation of Kievan Rus and the Byzantine Empire over the ownership of Bulgaria. 968 Svyatoslav had the Bulgarian Tsar Boris II defeated and moved his capital to 969 Pereslavets at the mouth of the Danube. In the same year he conquered Philip Opel ( Plovdiv ), and besieged in the summer of 970 Adrian Opel ( Edirne ). The threat of Constantinople led to the takeover of John Tzimiskes ', the Emperor Nikephoros II killed in December 969.

The defeat at Arkadiopolis finished but then Sviatoslav hopes to conquer Constantinople Opel. The following year, the Byzantines took the former Bulgarian capital Preslav and besieged Sviatoslav in Dorostolon ( Silistra ), whereas this had retired (→ siege of Dorostolon ).

The battle is described in the Primary Chronicle and the Chronicle of John Skylitzes.

  • Battle of the Byzantine- Bulgarian Wars
  • Battle ( Byzantium )
  • Kievan Rus
  • 970
Bardas Skleros Sviatoslav I of Kiev East Thrace Boris II of Bulgaria Nikephoros II Phokas
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