Siege of Serdica (809)

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Siege of Serdica
partof=the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
date=Spring 809
place=Sofia
result= Decisive Bulgarian victory
combatant1=Bulgarian Empire
combatant2=Byzantine Empire
commander1=Krum
commander2=Unknown
strength1=Unknown
strength2=6,000
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=6,000The Siege of Serdica (Bulgarian:Обсадата на Сердика) took place in the spring of 809 at modern Sofia, Bulgaria. As a result, the city was permanently included in the Bulgarian State.

Origins of the conflict

After the destruction of the Avar Khaganate, Khan Krum turned his gaze to the southwest to liberate the Slavs which populated the valley of the Struma River and Macedonia. The main obstacle was the strong Byzantine-held fortress of Serdica (Sofia).

The siege

In the beginning of 809 Krum besieged the city but he could not break the resistance of the garrison for several weeks. In the end he promised to give safe conduct for the Byzantines on condition they yield the fortress. They agreed and Krum entered Serdica before Easter but he killed the whole 6,000 garrison and some citizens nonetheless.

Aftermath

The successful siege was of great importance for Bulgaria, because Serdica was a major crossroad in the Balkans. It was used as a main base by the later rulers of the country to expand their borders and influence to the south and southwest.

Sources

*Васил Н. Златарски, История на българската държава през средните векове, Част I, II изд., Наука и изкуство, София 1970.
*Атанас Пейчев и колектив, 1300 години на стража, Военно издателство, София 1984.
*Йордан Андреев, Милчо Лалков, Българските ханове и царе, Велико Търново, 1996.
*cite book | last=Norwich| first=John J. | title=Byzantium: The Apogee | publisher=Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. | year=1991 | isbn=0-394-53779-3