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Battle of Marcellae (1st) |
year: 756 |
| Byzantine victory against the Bulgarians | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
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enemy: Bulgarians
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location: At the border castle of Marcellae, 7.5 km from the modern town of Karnobat, in Burgas Province, in SE Bulgaria
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accuracy:
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battle type: Pitched battle |
war: Early Bulgarian Wars |
modern country:
Bulgaria |
| ▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Constantine V Kopronymos) | ▼ The Enemies | |
| Commander: | Emperor Constantine V | Khan Vinekh |
| Forces: | Unknown | Unknown |
| Losses: |
| Background story: |
| In 755, the long peace between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire came to an end. This was mainly because, after his victories over the Arabs, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine V began to fortify his border with Bulgaria. To this aim he resettled heretics from Armenia and Syria in Thrace. Khan Kormisosh took those actions, and the construction of a new fortress along the border, as a breach of the Treaty of 716, signed by Khan Tervel. The Bulgarian ruler sent envoys to ask for tribute for the new fortresses. After the refusal of the Byzantine Emperor, the Bulgarian army invaded Thrace. Looting everything on their way, the Bulgarians reached the outskirts of Constantinople, where they were engaged and defeated by Byzantine troops. In the next year, Constantine V organized a large campaign against Bulgaria which was now ruled by a new Khan, Vinekh. At the same time a Byzantine army was sent with 500 ships to plunder the region around the Danube delta. The Emperor himself, leading the main force, advanced into Thrace, and was engaged by the Bulgarians at the border castle of Marcellae. |
The Battle: |
 Location of Marcellae fortress t must have been a large-scale battle, since it is known that in the campaign the Byzantines used 500 ships. The Bulgars later renewed the war and were defeated in June 763 at Anchialus. |
Aftermath: |
| The Bulgarians sued for peace to stop the invasion of the Byzantines and under the treaty they sent hostages to Constantinople. The peace did not last long. The Bulgarians later resumed hostilities and were defeated in June 763 at Anchialos. |
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