Battle fought in 970 between a Byzantine army under Bardas Skleros and a Rus' army,
The Byzantine victory delayed the Rus' advance on Constantinople, giving Emperor John I Tzimiskes time to organize a campaign that defeated Sviatoslav in 971.
Key Facts
- Year
- 970 AD
- Byzantine commander
- Bardas Skleros
- Rus' allied contingents
- Bulgarians, Pechenegs, Hungarians
- Byzantine tactic
- Feigned retreat and ambush
- Strategic outcome
- Rus' advance on Constantinople halted
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In the years preceding the battle, Rus' ruler Sviatoslav had conquered northern Bulgaria and was advancing his forces through Thrace toward Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire faced this external threat while Emperor John I Tzimiskes was occupied with internal problems, leaving Bardas Skleros to defend against the advancing Rus' coalition of Bulgarian, Pecheneg, and Hungarian allies.
Outnumbered, Bardas Skleros divided his Byzantine force and launched a direct assault on the Rus' army near Arcadiopolis. The Byzantines then executed a feigned retreat, luring the Pecheneg contingent into a prepared ambush and routing it. The remaining Rus' forces were subsequently struck by the pursuing Byzantines and suffered heavy casualties, ending the Rus' advance through Thrace.
The Byzantine victory at Arcadiopolis halted the Rus' march toward Constantinople and provided Emperor John I Tzimiskes the time needed to resolve internal difficulties and assemble a major military expedition. The following year, 971, this expedition defeated Sviatoslav, compelling him to withdraw from Bulgaria and effectively ending Rus' expansion into Byzantine territory.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Bardas Skleros.
Side B
1 belligerent
Sviatoslav I of Kiev (overall Rus' leader).