Search results

1

Writing at the Emperor’s Behest: A Remark on Theodore Daphnopates’ Correspondence to Bulgarian Tsar Symeon I the Great (893–927)

100%

Hristov Y. M.

Przegląd Nauk Historycznych

|

2023

|

vol. 22

|

issue 1

233-250

PL

Listy wysokiego dygnitarza bizantyńskiego Teodora Dafnopata, wysłane do bułgarskiego cara Symeona (893–927; zm. 27 V 927) w imieniu cesarza bizantyńskiego Romana I Lekapena (920–944; zm. 29 VI 948), są dobrze znane. Zostały napisane w końcowej fazie długiej wojny bizantyńsko-bułgarskiej w latach 913–927. Korespondencja Daphnopatesa wywołała i prawdopodobnie nadal będzie inspirować poważną działalność badawczą. Trudno się temu dziwić biorąc pod uwagę fakt, że listy dotyczyły niektórych aspektów bizantyńskiej ideologii i koncepcji politycznych, a także roszczeń bułgarskich z początku X w. Niniejszy artykuł koncentruje się na informacjach dotyczących bizantyńskiej ludności cywilnej i jej losów pod presją nacierających wojsk wroga. Zwrócono uwagę na ich schwytanie i porwanie. Główny nacisk kładziony jest na często pomijane lub jawnie zaniedbywane informacje, które Daphnopathes przekazuje w kwestii zniewolenia, handlu niewolnikami oraz wysiłków władz bizantyńskich, by sprowadzić przynajmniej część poddanych z powrotem do Cesarstwa poprzez znaną praktykę wymiany jeńców wojennych.

EN

The letters written by Theodore Daphnopates, a high Byzantine dignitary, and sent to Bulgarian Tsar Symeon (r. 893–927; d. May 27, 927) on behalf of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–944; d. June 29, 948) in the ﬁnal phase of the prolonged Byzantine-Bulgarian war of 913–927, are well known. Daphnopates’ correspondence has encouraged, and will probably continue to encourage, research activity due to its focus on both the aspects of Byzantine political ideology and concepts, and on the Bulgarian claims in the early 10th century. This text focuses on information concerning Byzantine civilians and their fate under the pressure of advancing enemy troops. Attention is paid to their capture and abduction. The main focus of this article is on the often overlooked or overtly neglected statements that Daphnopathes offers on enslavement, slave trafﬁcking, and the efforts of the Byzantine authorities to bring at least some of their subjects back to the Empire through the familiar practice of exchanging prisoners of war.

2

Prisoners of War in Early Medieval Bulgaria (Preliminary Remarks)

100%

Hristov Y. M.

Studia Ceranea

|

2015

|

vol. 5

73-105

EN

The work is concentrated on the problem of war prisoners in the chronological period of the existance of the so-called First Bulgarian state. The analysis is based predominantly on various Byzantine and selected Latin and Bulgarian sources from the epoch. With some exceptions, mostly for 707/708, 754/755, 763/764 and 774, the notices are concentrated around the events of 811–815/816, 837/838; 894–896, 917–30s and for a moment or two from the period of 971–1018. In his preliminary remarks the author comes to the conclusion that in the Early Middle Ages prisoners of war (in the broadest medieval sense) were an integral part of the efforts to achieve the political objectives of the Bulgarian rulers. Response mechanisms against prisoners of war were highly dependent on the course of the conflict and their attitude towards their own warriors and subjects caught up in enemy hands. They included a wide range of solutions, which could be grouped into three main areas: the first one refers to killing (and/or mutilation) of war prisoners; the second main line was connected with preserving the lives of the captives; the third group of measures was due to the fact that an immediate effect is not always haunted.

3

Николай A. Кънев, Византия и България на Балканите. Студии върху политическата история и българо-византийското имперско противоборство на Балканския полуостров през периода VII–X в. (Византинобългарски студии II) [Nikolay A. Kănev, Byzantium and Bulgaria in the Balkans. Studies on the Political History and the Bulgarian- Byzantine Political Conflict on the Balkan Peninsula in the Period 7th–10th c. (Byzantine-Bulgarian Studies II)], УИ “Св. св. Кирил и Методий”, Велико Търново 2021, pp. 308.

100%

Hristov Y. M.

Studia Ceranea

|

2022

|

vol. 12

793-796

4

Disease, Healing and Medical Knowledge in an Old Bulgarian Collection of Miracle Stories

63%

Hristov Y. M., Kostadinova D.

Studia Ceranea

|

2022

|

vol. 12

95-117

EN

The Old Bulgarian hagiographical collection of miracle stories, named A Tale of the Iron Cross, is relatively well known among the scholars, but a sufficient number of its details still has not been studied properly. In fact, such a peculiarity seems somehow strange, especially if we take into consideration that the mixture of translated and original strata in the present Tale’s version does not hinder its significance as a valuable primary source of historical information. There can be no doubt that the religious aspect in the hagiographical collection in question is the leading one in the foreground. On the other hand, however, the records of the daily life activities should not be underestimated either. Their presence within the frames of the Tale helps a lot in the scholars’ attempts to reconstruct the knowledge, skills, habits or principles of social behaviour in the Bulgarian society in the late 9th – early 10th century.

5

Remarks on Captives and Warriors in an Old Bulgarian Collection of Miracle Stories

63%

Hristov Y. M., Kostadinova D.

Studia Ceranea

|

2022

|

vol. 13

419-441

EN

When scholars’ efforts are focused on the ethnic, religious and social diversity in certain parts of the Byzantine commonwealth during the middle ages, the hagiographic literature stands out as a key primary source. One such source is a voluminous early tenth-century collection of miracle stories titled A Tale of the Iron Cross. Its essential role when trying to uncover data, specific information and truths about Bulgaria’s medieval past is undeniable. A number of highly informative records have been found and are well-preserved within the covers of this impressive literary work. Many of them have been used repeatedly in various scholars’ academic initiatives and undertakings. However, other Tale’s records, regardless of their unique peculiarities and immeasurable contemporary information, still remain outside of the main research work when it comes to the subject matter of captivity and warfare.

Refine search results

4 Studia Ceranea

1 Przegląd Nauk Historycznych

5 Hristov Y. M.

2 Kostadinova D.

1 2023

3 2022

1 2015

Writing at the Emperor’s Behest: A Remark on Theodore Daphnopates’ Correspondence to Bulgarian Tsar Symeon I the Great (893–927)

Prisoners of War in Early Medieval Bulgaria (Preliminary Remarks)

Disease, Healing and Medical Knowledge in an Old Bulgarian Collection of Miracle Stories

Remarks on Captives and Warriors in an Old Bulgarian Collection of Miracle Stories