Battle of Kleidion: What Happened
On 29 July 1014, the Byzantine emperor Basil II won a decisive victory over the Bulgarian army of Tsar Samuel at Kleidion, a pass in the Belasitsa mountains, near the modern border between Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Samuel had fortified the pass with walls to block Basil's advance. After failing to break through with frontal attacks, the Byzantines sent a force under the general Nikephoros Xiphias around the mountains to attack the Bulgarians from behind, and their defense collapsed. According to later Byzantine accounts, Basil then ordered a terrible punishment. He had around 15,000 captured soldiers blinded, leaving one man in every hundred with one eye to lead the others home. The exact number is probably exaggerated, but the story became one of the most famous episodes in Byzantine history. It was said that when Samuel saw his blinded army return, he collapsed and died a few days later. The Bulgarians continued fighting for four more years, but the battle broke their power, and Bulgaria was annexed by the empire in 1018.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Battle of Kleidion?
The Battle of Kleidion, on 29 July 1014, was a decisive Byzantine victory over the Bulgarian army of Tsar Samuel, fought in a pass in the Belasitsa mountains.
How did Basil II win at Kleidion?
After frontal attacks failed, Basil sent a force under Nikephoros Xiphias around the mountains to attack the Bulgarian defenders from behind, breaking their line.
Did Basil II blind 15,000 prisoners?
According to later Byzantine accounts, Basil had around 15,000 captured soldiers blinded, leaving one in a hundred with one eye to lead the rest. The number is probably exaggerated.
How did Tsar Samuel die?
According to tradition, Samuel collapsed when he saw his blinded army return and died a few days later, in October 1014.
Where is Kleidion?
Kleidion was a pass in the Belasitsa mountains, near the modern border between Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
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