Conflict:
The Battle of Kleidion was part of the Bulgarian-Byzantine wars which raged from the late 600s until the fall of Bulgaria in 1018.
Date:
The climatic attack at Kleidion occurred on July 29, 1014.
Commanders & Armies:
- Emperor Basil II
- Nicephorus Xiphias
- Theophylactus Botaniates
- Strength unknown
Bulgarians
- Tsar Samuil
- Gavril Radomir
- approximately 20,000 men
Battle Summary:
After ascending to the throne of the Byzantine Empire in 976, Basil II spent much of his reign in constant combat with the Bulgarian Empire. Following several early setbacks, Basil gained the initiative and fought to stop Bulgarian expansion into Greece. In 1014, Basil formed a large army with the goal of raiding into Bulgarian territory and drawing out the army of his nemesis, Tsar Samuil. Marching west, Basil sought to move through the Kleidion Pass along the Struma River. Anticipating this move, Samuil had fortified the pass and nearby Belasitsa Mountain with thick wooden walls to obstruct Basil's movement.
Arriving at the Kleidion fortifications, Basil immediately ordered his army to attack. On July 29, after several assaults had failed, the emperor ordered his most experienced commander, Nicephorus Xiphias, to lead a column up and around Belasitsa Mountain to attack the Bulgarians from the rear, while he continued to assault the wall. Xiphias successfully made the march and descended on the Bulgarians rear, trapping them. With the Bulgarians distracted by the new threat, Basil was able to breach the wall. In the ensuing fight, much of the Bulgarian army was captured.
Samuil, who, along with his son, Gavril Radomir, was at his headquarters at nearby Strumitsa when Xiphias' attack began, raced to the battlefield but was not able to rally his troops. As Basil moved down the valley towards Strumitsa, Samuil fled to Prespa, while his son took command of the remaining Bulgarian forces. After laying siege to Strumitsa, Basil ordered Theophylactus Botaniates to destroy the fortress' southern ramparts. After accomplishing this mission, Botaniates' troops were ambushed and routed by Radomir. In the fighting, Radomir killed Botaniates with a spear.
Aftermath & Impact:
With Botaniates' forces destroyed, Basil elected to end the siege and withdrew back down the valley. While casualties for the Battle of Kleidion are unknown, records show that around 14,000 Bulgarians were captured by Byzantine forces. In retribution, Basil ordered that they be divided into groups of 100, and 99 in each be blinded. One man in each group was left with one eye so that he could guide his comrades home. The sight of these prisoners returning overwhelmed Samuil, and he died later that fall. His death marked the beginning of the end, and the Byzantines completed their conquest of Bulgaria in 1018.
