Byzantine Battleships and Military Transport Vessels along the Hostile Shores (original) (raw)

The Byzantine-Bulgarian Confrontation in the first Half of the 10th Century and Kyivan Rus'

Byzantinoslavica Revue internationale des Etudes Byzantines, 2012

The article is devoted to the analysis of the place and role of Rusí in the system of Byzantine-Bulgarian relations in the first half of the 10th century. On the basis of the analysis of economic, political and ideological factors influencing the relations of Byzantium, Bulgaria and Rusí a conclusion is made that non-interference of Rusí in Byzantine-Bulgarian confrontation in the first half of the 10th century was caused by the aim of Rusí firstly to maintain the status quo with Byzantium, and secondly, to support the strength of Bulgaria as a stabilizing factor in the region of the north coast of the Black Sea and weakening of the influence of Byzantium in the mentioned region and in the Balkan Mountains.

TSAR SAMUEL AGAINST EMPEROR BASIL II: WHY BULGARIA LOST THE BATTLE WITH THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 11TH C.

Studia Ceranea ISSN 2084–140X, 2011

At the beginning of the 11th century, after decades of almost incessant wars with the Byzantine Empire, the Bulgarian state lost its political independence. In many research works on the period in question there is emphasis put on the stabilization of the Empire at the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century as a major factor or a reason for the loss of our political independence for a century and a half. Naturally, the internal political state of affairs in the Bulgarian Tsardom and the decline of its military power resulting from the loss of independence also made it easier for Emperor Basil II to put pressure on the Balkans. This article deals with the issue of the reasons for the decline in the Bulgarian military power at the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century, the changes in the military stratagems observed in the wars of tsar Samuel and his successors to the throne. Why did Samuel avoid pitched battles? Why do the sources speak mostly about lightly-equipped Bulgarian armies? Why did the Bulgarians of the time take over fortresses after prolonged sieges and mainly through starvation and military stratagems? The present article attempts to give an answer to these questions, based on the written sources of the period and the works of historians.

Tsar Samuel Against Emperor Basil II: Why Did Bulgaria Loose the Battle With the Byzantine Empire at the Beginning of the 11th century

Studia Ceranea, 2011

At the beginning of the 11th century, after decades of almost incessant wars with the Byzantine Empire, the Bulgarian state lost its political independence. In many research works on the period in question there is emphasis put on the stabilization of the Empire at the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century as a major factor or a reason for the loss of our political independence for a century and a half. Naturally, the internal political state of affairs in the Bulgarian Tsardom and the decline of its military power resulting from the loss of independence also made it easier for Emperor Basil II to put pressure on the Balkans. This article deals with the issue of the reasons for the decline in the Bulgarian military power at the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century, the changes in the military stratagems observed in the wars of tsar Samuel and his successors to the throne. Why did Samuel avoid pitched battles? Why do the sources speak mostly about lig...

BYZANTINE – BULGARIAN RELATIONS IN THE 10TH C.

2015

I confirm that the work I have submitted is: (Tick one category only) My own unaided work…… The unaided work of my project group…… With help (give details)……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Date:………01/03/2015…………………………….

Early Byzantine and Arab Naval Strategies and Organizations, 645-718 C.E. (Undergrad Thesis)

Throughout the seventh century the Byzantine Empire and Arab Caliphate waged war on the land and on the sea. By 655 CE the Mare Nostrum, the absolute control of the Mediterranean Sea by the Byzantine fleet, was ended by the emergence of powerful, Arab led, fleets. From then to the early eighth century the two powers would battle each other into a stalemate in a battleground that was waged from Spain to the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. How the Byzantines were able to outlast this serious onslaught and how the Arabs were able to take the fight all the way to the nervous center of the Byzantine Empire to siege is explained in their naval strategies. Both sides wanted to establish their own thalassocracy, their empires' maritime power, over each other. In many ways it was necessary for both powers to take their fight to the sea. The ability to control trade routes and utilize the seas for rapid transport, raiding, and invasion has often tipped the scales in favor of the power with the most powerful naval force.