Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Versinikia

Battle of Versinikia was a battle fought on 22 June AD 813 at Edirne, in what is now Bulgaria. It was part of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars, which ran from AD 680 to 1355. The recorded result: Bulgarian victory; Abdication of Michael I Rangabe. Recorded strength: 6,000–7,000 or 12,000 against 20,000–30,000; 30,000–36,000.

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Territorial expansion of Bulgaria during the reign of Khan Krum (803-814)
Territorial expansion of Bulgaria during the reign of Khan Krum (803-814). Kandi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought22 June AD 813
WhereEdirne, Bulgaria41.667N, 26.567E
OutcomeBulgarian victory; Abdication of Michael I Rangabe
BelligerentsBulgarian EmpireagainstByzantine Empire
Casualties and lossesUnknownand2,000–3,000
Part ofByzantine–Bulgarian WarsAD 680 to 1355

Where it sits in the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars

Battle of Ongal, AD 680Battle of Anchialus, AD 708Battle of Marcellae, AD 756Bulgarian campaigns of Constantine V, AD 756Battle of the Rishki Pass, AD 759Battle of Anchialus, AD 763Battle of Berzitia, AD 774Battle of Marcellae, AD 792Siege of Serdica (809), AD 809Battle of Pliska, AD 811Siege of Adrianople (813), AD 813Battle of Versinikia, AD 813Battle of Mesembria, AD 814Battle of Adrianople, AD 914Fall of Great Preslav, AD 971Battle of Spercheios, AD 997Battle of Thessalonica, 1004Battle of Kreta, 1009Battle of Thessalonica, 1014Battle of Strumica, 1014Battle of Bitola, 1015Battle of Setina, 1017Battle of Dyrrhachium, 1018Battle of Thessalonica, 1040Battle of Thessalonica, 1040Siege of Lovech, 1187Battle of Arcadiopolis, 1194Battle of Serres, 1196Siege of Varna (1201), 1201Battle of Adrianople, 1205Battle of Klokotnitsa, 1230Siege of Constantinople, 1235Battle of Adrianople, 1254Battle of Rhoupelion, 1255Battle of Bizye, 1256Battle of Devina, 1279Battle of Skafida, 1304Battle of Adrianople, 1331Battle of Rusokastro, 1332Battle of Adrianople, 1341AD 6801341Battle of Versinikia, AD 813
40 placed engagements of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date22 June AD 813
PlaceEdirne, Bulgaria
41.667N, 26.567E
KindBattle, medieval
Strength6,000–7,000 or 12,00020,000–30,000; 30,000–36,000
Casualties and lossesUnknown2,000–3,000
Commanders
  • Michael I Rangabe
Battle of VersinikiaBattle of VersinikiaBattle of AdrianopleSiege of AdrianopleBattle of AdrianopleBattle of AdrianópolisBattle of AdrianopleBattle of AdrianopleBurgasStara ZagoraTekirdağKhaskovoXanthiPlovdivSlivenLüleburgaz100 km41.667N, 26.567E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 10 times between AD 324 and 1913.

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 813

Battle of Versinikia is one of 193 engagements of the 9th century in the atlas and one of 126 in present-day Bulgaria.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1048401, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Versinikia, revision 1370592419, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.