The Battle of Beroia (modern Stara Zagora) was fought between the Pechenegs and Emperor John II Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire in the year 1122 in what is now Bulgaria, and resulted in the disappearance of the Pecheneg people as an independent force. The Komnenian restoration is the term used by Byzantinists to describe the military, financial and territorial recovery of the Byzantine Empire under the Komnenian dynasty, from the accession of Alexios I Komnenos in 1081, to the death of Manuel I Komnenos in 1180. ... Mosaic of John II Comnenus This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... John II Komnenos or Comnenus (Greek: Ιωάννης Β΄ Κομνηνός, IōannÄ“s II KomnÄ“nos) (September 13, 1087 – April 8, 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. ... Events Resolution of Investiture Controversy in the Concordat of Worms Pierre Abélard writes Sic et Non Births Ben Lancaster, Gradutate, Dynamite dancer. ... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered around its capital in Constantinople. ... Pechenegs or Patzinaks, also known as Besenyők, were a semi-nomadic steppes people of Central Asia that spoke a Turkic language. ... John II Komnenos or Comnenus (Greek: Ιωάννης Β΄ Κομνηνός, IōannÄ“s II KomnÄ“nos) (September 13, 1087 – April 8, 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. ... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... Pechenegs or Patzinaks, also known as Besenyők, were a semi-nomadic steppes people of Central Asia that spoke a Turkic language. ... John II Komnenos or Comnenus (Greek: Ιωάννης Β΄ Κομνηνός, IōannÄ“s II KomnÄ“nos) (September 13, 1087 – April 8, 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. ... It has been suggested that Eastern Roman Empire be merged into this article or section. ... Events Resolution of Investiture Controversy in the Concordat of Worms Pierre Abélard writes Sic et Non Births Ben Lancaster, Gradutate, Dynamite dancer. ...

Background

In 1091 the Pechenegs had invaded the Byzantine Empire, and had been crushingly defeated by John II's father Alexios I Komnenos at the Battle of Levounion. This defeat had meant the almost total extinction of all the Pechenegs who had taken part in the expedition; however, some Pechenegs had remained behind. Attacked again in 1094 by the Cumans, many Pechenegs were slain or absorbed. Yet even so, they still had not yet been absorbed by neighbouring peoples. Henry, son of William I attempted a coup against his brothers but failed to seize the English throne. ... Emperor Alexios I Komnenos Emperor Alexios I Komnenos depicted in a mosaic in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople Alexios I Komnenos or Alexius I Comnenus (Greek: ; Latin: ) (1048 – August 15, 1118), Byzantine emperor (1081–1118), was the son of John Komnenos and Anna Dalassena and the nephew of Isaac I... Combatants Byzantines, supported by Cumans Pechenegs Commanders Alexios I Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor Unknown Strength Unknown 80,000? Casualties Unknown Unknown, but thought to be extremely heavy The Battle of Levounion was the first decisive Byzantine victory of the Komnenian restoration. ... // May - El Cid completes his conquest of Valencia, Spain, and begins his rule of Valencia. ... Cuman, also called Polovtsy, Polovtsian, or the Anglicized Polovzian (Russian: , Ukrainian: , Bulgarian: , Romanian: , Hungarian: ), is a Western European exonym for the western Kipchaks. ...

In the year 1122 Pechenegs from the Russian steppes invaded the Byzantine empire by crossing the Danube frontier into Byzantine territory. According to Michael Angold, it is possible that their invasion took place with the connivance of Vladimir Monomakh (1113–1125), the ruler of Kiev. The Pechenegs had once been his auxiliaries. Either way, the invasion was a threat to Byzantine control over the northern Balkans. Emperor John II Komnenos of Byzantium (1118–1143) determined to meet the invaders in the field and drive them back, and therefore transferred his field army from Asia Minor (where it had been engaged against the Turks) to Europe, and prepared to march north. The Danube (ancient Danuvius, Iranian *dānu, meaning river or stream, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river in the European Union and Europes second longest river. ... Volodymyr Monomakh (Ukrainian: Володимир Мономах; Russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name Vasiliy, or Basil) (1053 -- May 19, 1125) was the ruler of Kievan Rus. ... Events Pierre Abélard opens his school in Paris End of Kyanzitthas reign in Myanmar Alaungsithus reign begins in Myanmar Suryavarman Is reign begins in the Khmer Empire Bridlington Priory founded Births August 24 - Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (died 1151) Stefan Nemanja, Serbian Grand Zupan Deaths... Events May 23 - Lothair of Saxony becomes Holy Roman Emperor on the death of Henry V. War ends between Toulouse and Provence. ... Map of Ukraine with Kiev highlighted Coordinates: Country Ukraine Oblast Kiev City Municipality Raion Municipality Government  - Mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi Elevation 179 m (587. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Events Knights Templar founded Baldwin of Le Bourg succeeds his cousin Baldwin I as king of Jerusalem John II Comnenus succeeds Alexius I as Byzantine emperor Gelasius II succeeds Paschal II as pope Births November 28 - Manuel I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1180) Andronicus I Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor (died 1185... Events Manuel I Comnenus becomes Byzantine Emperor. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to... World map showing the location of Europe. ...

Battle

The Byzantine emperor gathered his forces near Constantinople, and set out to meet the Pecheneg army as soon as possible. Meanwhile the Pechenegs had set up a wagon laager near the city of Beroia in Bulgaria. The emperor at first offered the Pecheneg chiefs presents, offering to grant them a treaty that was favourable to their interests. The Pechenegs were taken in by this deception, and were as a result taken by surprise when the Byzantines suddenly launched a major attack on their laager. The battle was hard fought, but when John ordered in the Varangian Guard, the elite Palace Guard of the Byzantine Emperors, the Pechenegs were forced back. The Varangians hacked their way through the Pecheneg circle of wagons, collapsing the Pecheneg position and causing a general rout in their camp. The Byzantine victory was complete, and the Pecheneg survivors were rounded up and enlisted into the Byzantine army. A laager is a defensive formation of vehicles. ... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... The Varangians or Variags were Vikings who travelled eastwards from Sweden and Norway. ...

Aftermath

Roman amphitheatre in the nearby city of Beroia

The Byzantine victory effectively destroyed the Pechenegs as an independent force. For some time, significant communities of Pechenegs still remained in Hungary, but eventually the Pechenegs ceased to be a distinct people and were assimilated by neighboring peoples such as the Bulgars and Magyars. For the Byzantines, the victory did not immediately lead to peace, however; in 1128, they were attacked by the Hungarians, and it was not until 1130 that they were able to finally secure their Danube frontier. Nevertheless, the battle marks a continuation of the Komnenian restoration of the Byzantine empire; the victory over the Pechenegs and later the Hungarians ensured that much of the Balkan peninsula would remain Byzantine, which in turn allowed John to turn his attention to extending Byzantine power and influence further in Asia Minor and the Holy Land. Image File history File links The_roman_amphithe_galleryfull. ... Image File history File links The_roman_amphithe_galleryfull. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... Bulgar warriors slaughter Byzantines, from the Menology of Basil II, 10th century. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Pope Honorius II recognizes and confirms the Order of the Knights Templar. ... Events February 13 - Innocent II is elected pope An antipope schism occurs when Roger II of Sicily supports Anacletus II as pope instead of Innocent II. Innocent flees to France and Anacletus crowns Roger King. ... The Komnenian restoration is the term used by Byzantinists to describe the military, financial and territorial recovery of the Byzantine Empire under the Komnenian dynasty, from the accession of Alexios I Komnenos in 1081, to the death of Manuel I Komnenos in 1180. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Holy Land (Biblical). ...

Bibliography

• Michael Angold, The Byzantine Empire 1025–1204, a political history, Longman, 1997 (second edition).
• John Haldon, The Byzantine Wars, Tempus, 2000