Battle of Serres

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=
conflict=Battle of Serres
partof=the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars
date=1196
place=near Serres, Greece
result=Bulgarian victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Ivan Asen I
commander2=Sevastokrator Isaac
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=Unknown

The battle of Serres ( _bg. Битка при Сяр) took place in 1196 near the town of Serres in contemporary Greece between the armies of the Bulgarian and the Byzantine Empires. The result was Bulgarian victory.

Origins of the conflict

After the beginning of the Anti-Byzantine rebellion in 1185 and especially after the victory at Tryavna the Bulgarians firmly took the initiative of the war. As a result of their efforts, the Bulgarians started capturing regions of Thrace and Macedonia from Byzantines; the Bulgarian army used their strongholds to the north of the Balkan mountains and the Danube river as bases for the war.

Between 1190 and 1195 many towns to the south and south-west were seized. During his preparation for a third campaign against Bulgaria, the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos was dethroned by his brother Alexios III Angelos who offered peace to the Bulgarian Emperor. Ivan Asen I demanded the return of all Bulgarian lands, which he knew it was impossible for the Byzantines to accept, and continued the struggle.

The battle

In the same year, the Bulgarian army advanced deep to the south-west and reached the vicinity of Serres taking many fortresses on its way. During the winter the Bulgarians retreated to the north but in the next year reappeared and defeated a Byzantine army under Sevastokrator Isaac near the town. In the course of the battle the enemy's cavalry was surrounded and the Byzantines suffered heavy casualties and their commander was captured.

Aftermath

Instead of a triumphal return, the way back to the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo ended tragically. Slightly before reaching the city of Tarnovo, Ivan Asen I was murdered by cousin Ivanko who was bribed by the Byzantines. Still, their attempts to stop the Bulgarians failed: Ivanko could not take the throne and fled to Byzantium. The Bulgarians advanced further during the reign of Kaloyan (1197-1207).