Battle of Rusion

The battle of Rusion (Bulgarian: Битката при Русион) occurred in the winter of 1206 near the fortress of Rusion (Ruskoy, contemporary Turkey) between the armies of the Bulgarian Empire and the Latin Empire of Byzantium. The Bulgarians scored a major victory. The stunning victory in the battle of Adrianople was followed by other Bulgarian victories at Serres and Plovdiv. The Latin Empire suffered heavy casualties and in the fall of 1205 the Crusad... more

The battle of Rusion (Bulgarian: Битката при Русион) occurred in the winter of 1206 near the fortress of Rusion (Ruskoy, contemporary Turkey) between the armies of the Bulgarian Empire and the Latin Empire of Byzantium. The Bulgarians scored a major victory. The stunning victory in the battle of Adrianople was followed by other Bulgarian victories at Serres and Plovdiv. The Latin Empire suffered heavy casualties and in the fall of 1205 the Crusaders tried to regroup and reorganize the remains of their army. Their main forces consisted of 140 knights and several thousand soldiers based in Rusion. This army was led by Thierry de Termond and Thierry de Loos who were among the most notable nobles of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. In mid January 1206 the Bulgarian army marched southwards. Part of the troops besieged Adrianople and the others under the personal command of Kaloyan headed to Rusion. According to his battle plan he had to force the Latins to go out of the fortress. For... less