Background Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 926

croatia , bulgaria c. 925


events preceding war

after war between trpimir , bulgarian khan boris in 853, resulted in peace treaty, relations between bulgaria , croatia improved greatly. ambassadors rome regularly went through croatian territory bulgaria , received escorts border, while pope had regular conversations both countries. croatia bordered bulgaria somewhere in present-day bosnia, between rivers bosna , drina. situation started changing in 10th century when new bulgarian ruler simeon started campaign against byzantine empire. conflict went in favor of bulgaria , byzantines found in great danger.

simeon captured large part of byzantine territory in europe , crowned emperor of bulgarians patriarch nicholas mystikos in 913. later crowned @ church of ohrid tsar of bulgarians , greeks newly appointed bulgarian patriarch in 925. however, byzantines addressed simeon prince (archon) , prelate continued referred archbishop. according juridical reasoning of time, pope , byzantine emperor bestow royal or imperial titles, , emperor might crowned patriarch. byzantine emperor romanos lekapenos protested bitterly against simeon s usurpation of imperial title. patriarch of constantinople, nicholas mysticus, did same. in such predicament, simeon demanded pope john x (914-928) send him imperial crown , recognize head of bulgarian church patriarch. naturally, simeon had promise recognize papal primacy in church. john x accepted simeon s request , sent solemn mission bulgaria, headed cardinal madalbertus , john, illustrious duke of cumae. papal mission reached bulgaria @ end of summer or during fall of 926, carrying crown , scepter crown simeon bulgarian emperor.

when papal mission arrived in preslav, madalbertus started long negotiations simeon , representatives of bulgarian church. probably, madalbertus convoked church synod in bulgaria later did in split, in croatia, on way rome in 928. negotiations regarding ecclesiastical matters successful, , archbishop leontius created patriarch in preslav, still during simeon s reign.

reasons war

in 924 simeon sent large army against zaharija in principality of serbia. bulgarian armies ravaged serbia , forced zaharija flee croatia. serbia annexed bulgaria simeon considerably expanded state. after simeon s annexation of serbia bulgarian state bordered croatian kingdom under tomislav, byzantine ally. croatia located between bulgaria , weakly defended byzantine theme of dalmatia, possible new target of simeon.

tomislav received , protected serbs expelled simeon rascia. tomislav may have been granted emperor romanos lekapenos years form of control on coastal cities of byzantine theme of dalmatia , rewarded share of tribute collected cities, securing friendship of tomislav. these events sufficient proof simeon croats took side of byzantine emperor , support him actively in future. therefore, simeon saw croatia, harboring enemies , allied empire, threat , not direct forces towards byzamtium since there nothing prevent croatia striking rear.