The Battle of Adrianople occurred on April 14, 1205 between Bulgarians under Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria, and Crusaders under Baldwin I. It was won by the Bulgarians after a skillful ambush using the help of their Cuman and Greek allies. Around 300 knights were killed, including Louis of Blois, Duke of Nicaea and Baldwin was captured, blinded, and later died in captivity. The Bulgarians then overran much of Thrace and Macedonia. Baldwin was succeede...
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The Battle of Adrianople occurred on April 14, 1205 between Bulgarians under Tsar Kaloyan of Bulgaria, and Crusaders under Baldwin I. It was won by the Bulgarians after a skillful ambush using the help of their Cuman and Greek allies. Around 300 knights were killed, including Louis of Blois, Duke of Nicaea and Baldwin was captured, blinded, and later died in captivity. The Bulgarians then overran much of Thrace and Macedonia. Baldwin was succeeded by his younger brother, Henry of Flanders, who took the throne on August 20, 1206.
The main source document for this battle comes from the Chronicles of Geoffrey de Villehardouin: It is to be noted that although he was part of the Crusaders who participated in this battle, his view of the fourth crusade is generally biased against the crusaders.
"Kaloyan, Tzar (Emperor) of Wallachia and Bulgaria, came to succour Adrianople with a very great army. He brought with him Bulgarians, Wallachians, and a full fourteen thousand Cumans who had never...
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