Battle of Sutorman

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Bar/Sutorman
partof=Byzantine-Serbian Wars
date=1042
place= Bar, Doclea (Montenegro)
casus=
territory=
result=Doclea still Independent from Byzantium
combatant1=Serbia (Rascia, Duklja)
combatant2=Byzantine Empire
commander1=Mihailo I of Duklja
commander2=Patricio Michael
strength1=low, vastly lower than the Byzantine Force
strength2=40,000 men
casualties1=low
casualties2=total annihilation, 7 strategos's killed, 50 captured

Prior to the war, Serbs had a nominal relationship of suzerainty with the Byzantine Empire; however, around the turn of the 11th century, Serbs waged a series of successful wars aimed at the complete independence of Serbia and termination of suzerain status.

From the peaks of the "Illyrian Mountains" the Serbian troops ambushed and completely decimated the Byzantine force. They, unhindered, chased the Byzantines until they annihilated all but a few hundred of their men who were then captured, stripped naked, and allowed to escape to tell their comrades of the horrible defeat.

Voislav dispatched 50 Greeks to tell the rest about the huge victory for the Serbs [www.visitbar.org/txt/BarEng6OctEdited.doc] .

References