Battle of Ostrovo

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Ostrovo
partof=the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
date=1041
place=near the Ostrovsko Lake, Greece
result=Byzantine victory
combatant1=Bulgarian Empire
combatant2=Byzantine Empire
commander1=Peter Delyan
commander2=Michael IV the Paphlagonian
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=UnknownThe Battle of Ostrovo occurred in 1041 near Ostrovo, an area close to the lake of the same name in modern northern Greece. In 1040 Peter Delyan led an uprising against the Byzantines and was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria. He quickly liberated the western Bulgarian lands from Belgrade to Larisa but in the next year he was betrayed by his cousin Alusian, who deserted from the army and blinded him. Though blind, Peter Delyan remained in command and met the Byzantines near Ostrovo. The battle itself is unclear but the Bulgarians were defeated mainly with the help of the Varangian Guard. The fate of the Bulgarian leader is also unknown; he may have perished in the battle. As a result the uprising was crushed and Bulgaria did not liberate until 1185.