Battle of Peritor

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars


caption=
date= 7 July 1345
place= near Xanthi, Greece
territory=
result= Ottoman victory
combatant1= n forces
combatant2= forces
commander1= Momchil †
commander2= Uner beg
strength1= A few thousand men
strength2= Larger force
casualties1= Unknown
casualties2= Unknown
notes=

The Battle of Peritor occurred on July 7, 1345 between Bulgarian and Ottoman forces near the seat of the Bulgarian ruler Momchil, at Xanthi in modern northern Greece. The result was an Ottoman victory.

Origins of the conflict

From 1341 Ottoman mercenaries hired by the pretender to the Byzantine throne, John VI Kantakouzenos, to fight against his Bulgarian-supported opponent John V Palaiologos, began to attack Bulgarian settlements in Thrace and the Eastern Rhodope mountains. After the local ruler of the Rhodope and Aegean region Momchil received help neither from the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Alexander nor from the Byzantines he fought alone against the Muslim invaders. In 1344 he managed to burn Ottoman ships at Portogalos.

The battle

In the following year the Ottoman Turks sent a large army against Momchil under Uner beg. On 7 July near the village of Peritor in the vicinity of his capital, the Bulgarian ruler engaged the superior enemy. After bloody fighting, the few thousand Bulgarians were defeated and their leader perished.

Aftermath

After the battle, the Ottomans occupied the principle towns and castles in the area. Momchil was the first Balkan ruler who was eliminated by the invaders and the first one to see the real threat of the Turks which the other Balkan rulers realised too late.

His brave resistance entered Bulgarian Epic folklore and his name became a legend.

References