The army of the Bulgarian Tsardom in the period 976 – 1018. Part 1

THE ARMY OF THE BULGARIAN TSARDOM IN THE PERIOD 976 – 1018. PART 1. ARMAMENT, BRACHES OF ARMED FORCES AND TACTICAL ABILITIES OF THE BULGARIAN ARMY DURING THE TIME OF TSAR SAMUEL AND HIS SUCCESSORS 

Petyo Ivanov 

(Summary) 

The campaigns of the Kiev prince Svetoslav, as well as the subsequent war between him and the Byzantine Empire in the period 967 – 972, were of decisive importance for the fate of the Bulgarian Tsardom. The loss of the central territories not only incurred a decrease in the economic, demographic and military potential of the state, but also led to significant changes in its organization. The changes that occurred in the Bulgarian army were most noticeable in the way in which combat actions were conducted before the mentioned conflicts. 

While before AD 972 the Bulgarian rulers and generals relied exclusively on direct confrontation with the enemy in the open field, after AD 976 not a single battle of this type is known. A careful examination of the available source base shows drastic changes in the organization of the army. If before the campaigns of the Prince of Kiev, the Bulgarians had an army with a dominant role of cavalry formations, then after the renewal of hostilities by Samuel and his brothers, the army had a predominantly infantry character. The Bulgarian army in the period under review was composed of four branches: heavy and light cavalry and heavy and light infantry, each of which performed a specific tactical task in the overall strategy of the Bulgarian rulers and military leaders. 

Regarding the armament, to a large extent there was continuity with the previous period, and in its nature it was not inferior to what was available to the soldiers of the Byzantine army. There is evidence of a possible fifth branch of army, composed of people specialized in the use of incendiary materials, used primarily in the defence of fortifications. In tactical terms, the Bulgarian army was able to conduct successful operations in mountainous terrain, but the lack of sufficient preparation and accumulated experience did not allow it to face the enemy in an open field. This imbalance ultimately played a decisive role in the collapse suffered in the nearly half-century long conflict between the Bulgarian Tsardom and the Byzantine Empire. 

Keywords: Samuel’s Bulgaria, army and armament, branches of the armed forces, military equipment, military strategy and tactics