Pecheneg revolt

The Pecheneg revolt was an uprising of the Pechenegs against the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from 1049 to 1053. Although the conflict ended with a negotiation of favorable terms with the rebels, it also demonstrated the deterioration of the Byzantine army. Its inability to defeat the rebels foreshadowed the future losses against the Seljuk Turks in the east and the Normans in the west.

Pecheneg revolt
Date1049 – 1053
Location
Thrace and Macedonia, Byzantine Empire
Result Negotiated settlement
Belligerents
Byzantine Empire Pechenegs
Commanders and leaders
Constantine IX
David Arianites †
Kekaumenos
Constantine (raiktor)
Hervé Frankopoulos
Samuel Bourtzes
Michael Dokeianos †
Kegen †
Basil Apokapes †		 Tyrach
Strength
Imperial forces 15,000 in 1049, more as the war went on

Background

In early 1049, the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos decided to transfer 15,000 Pecheneg warriors from their positions in the Balkans to the eastern front. Upon approaching the Bosporus, however, they decided to turn back, and slowly marched through Bulgaria until they reached the Byzantine city of Serdica. They were soon joined by the followers of the Pecheneg warlord Tyrach, who was imprisoned in Constantinople, and the former Pecheneg tribal leader Kegen, and raised the banner of revolt.[1]

Revolt

The Pecheneg army soon began to plunder the area around Adrianople. The local doux (military commander) engaged the Pechenegs in battle, but was soundly defeated. Soon, Constantine decided to release Tyrach from prison on the condition that he pacify his followers. Predictably, he joined them instead.[1] Constantine soon brought his eastern armies to the west, but they, under the command of Kekaumenos and Hervé Frankopoulos, were soundly defeated.[1] At this point the Pechenegs were able to raid across Macedonia and Thrace with impunity.

In June 1050, another Byzantine army under Samuel Bourtzes was destroyed by the Pechenegs. In this battle, the general David Arianites was killed and a veteran commander from Italy, Michael Dokeianos, was taken prisoner and also soon killed.[2][3][4] At this point Constantine realized he had to change tactics in order to defeat the Pechenegs. He organized the formation of multiple counter-guerrilla units, largely made up of Varangians, Franks, and other Westerners, in order to counter the Pechenegs with their own tactics.[4] For three years the guerrillas fought against the Pechenegs until, in 1053, Constantine was able to organize another regular army. This army, under the command of the doux of Bulgaria, Basil Apokapes, was also annihilated at Preslav.

At this point, the Pechenegs were tired of war and attempted to make peace with Constantine. A peace treaty was signed, which lasted for thirty years. The Pechenegs were forced to cede all of their conquests to the Byzantines, likely in exchange for some form of autonomy.[4]

References
  1. Kaldellis 2017, p. 199.
  2. Wortley 2010, pp. 438–439.
  3. Kaldellis & Krallis 2012, pp. 59, 61.
  4. Kaldellis 2017, p. 200.

Sources
  • Kaldellis, Anthony; Krallis, Dimitris, eds. (2012). The History - Michael Attaleiates. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-05799-9.
  • Kaldellis, Anthony (2017). Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190253226.
  • Wortley, John, ed. (2010). John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811–1057. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-76705-7.
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