Battle of Arcadiopolis
The battle of Arcadiopolis (Lullé-Bourgas) is a defeat of the Russians directed by Sviatoslav Ier vis-a-vis the Byzantine forces directed by Bardas Sklèros.
Be a prelude to.
the battle of Arcadiopolis belongs to the fight of the Byzantines vis-a-vis the Russians started at the time of the summer 968. In this same year Sviatoslav thus decides to attack the Bulgaria thorough by its adviser Kalocyr. Byzance, informed, decides to approach Bulgarian but them Tsar Pierre Ier dies the January 30th 969 whereas it prepared an attack against Russes.
Boris was then proclaimed tsar but the majority of the boliades (Bulgarian dignitaries) were proclaimed against the new tsar. Bulgaria was thus in full anarchy when Sviatoslav the attack at the time of autumn 969. At the time when Nicéphore II Phocas was assassinated by a conspiracy carried out by his Théophano wife, the Russians prepared to attack Constantinople and preventing a Byzantine attack they seized Philippopoli (March 970).
First steps of the battle.
As of the advertisement of the catch of Philippopoli panic gained Constantinople and Jean Ier Tzimiskès which the throne was still badly assured decided to negotiate with Sviatoslav which ravagait the Thrace. But running up against the insolence of this last it decides to give the command of a small force of 12.000 men to Bardas Sklèros which establishes its general headquarter with Andrinople.
Course of the battle.
As of the appearance of Russian Bardas Sklèros withdraws itself slowly towards Constantinople by avoiding the battle; but with the height of Arcadiopolis it tightened to them a ambush with the favor of the wood which enabled him to encircle and to overcome the 30.000 Russian soldiers who had to ebb towards Philippopoli.
Conclusion.
At the time of this battle the Russians lost nearly 20.000 men whereas the Byzantines underwent only negligible losses (25 men according to a legend, which appears not very probable).
Unfortunately Jean Tzimiskès could not benefit from this success because while it made its preparations for the continuation of the fight against Russian took place the revolt of Bardas Phocas against which it was necessary to send Skléros with all the forces available leaving opposite the Russians a simple body of observation which could not prevent them from making raids in Thrace and Macedonia. Nevertheless the fight against Sviatoslav took again in spring 971.