All Battles 
Emperors 
Battle of Thessalonica |
year: 995 |
| A successful ambush of the Bulgarians which resulted in the death of the Byzantine governor of Thessalonica | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
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enemy: Bulgarians
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location: Outside Thessalonica to the north
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accuracy:
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battle type: Ambush |
war: Conquest of Bulgaria |
modern country:
Greece |
| ▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Basil II Bulgaroktonos) | ▼ The Enemies | |
| Commander: | Duke Gregory Taronitis | Tsar Samuil |
| Forces: | ||
| Losses: |
| Background story: |
| The Armenian prince Gregory Taronitis was appointed Duke of Thessaloniki shortly before 995. Earlier, he was ruler of the Armenian principality of Taron, which in 967 voluntarily ceded to Byzantium in exchange for high positions, lands and titles. Taronitis was a man of the absolute confidence of the emperor Basil II as he had been involved in the civil conflicts with Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phokas, in which his support was decisive for the final defeat of the rebels. At the time when Taronitis took over as Duke of Thessaloniki, the war with the Bulgarians was raging. The Bulgarians after their great victory in the battle of Trajan Gates and because of the difficult period that Byzantium went through with the mutinies of the generals, had the upper hand and were launching attacks against the cities of Thrace and Macedonia. |
The Battle: |
 The death of Taronotis in the Skylitzes manuscript When the Bulgarian cavalry was spotted, Taronitis sent a detachment led by his son Asotios (or Ashot) to watch them and detect their intentions. Asotios did not hesitate to engage, he attacked and pursued them. The enemy thus drew him into an ambush, where the main Bulgarian army was waiting. Asotios was surrounded. His father rushed to his aid with the city’s garrison and a battle ensued in which Taronitis was killed and his son was taken prisoner. |
Noteworthy: |
| During his captivity, Asotios married Miroslava , the daughter of tsar Samuil, who was forced to consent to the marriage when his daughter threatened to commit suicide. The Tsar made his new son-in-law governor of the city of Durres, which Asotios later handed over to the Byzantines. |
Aftermath: |
| It was not an important battle but the death of Taronitis and the capture of Asotios shocked the imperial court. After this, Tsar Samuil moved south, plundering all of Greece and reaching as far as Corinth. A new duke of Thessaloniki was appointed, Ioannes Chaldos, who in a similar incident next year was killed in an ambush by the Bulgarians outside the city. |
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