File:MadridSkylitzesMichaelRhangabesKrumFol11r.jpg

Miniatures:

• The Khan of the Bulgarians, Krum, assembles his soldiers before the Battle of Versinikia (top);
• The Byzantine soldiers urge Michael I Rangabe to fight Krum (bottom).

Text from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes: "...Krum, the ruler of the Bulgars, puffed up by his previous successes, together with his subjects (now become presumptuous on account of their victories) burnt and devastated the western regions. So Michael decided to mount a campaign against them, to do the best he could to restrain and throw back the Bulgar foraging parties. He therefore quickly sent out orders in all directions and troops were hastily assembled. When Krum heard of the emperor's mobilisation, he recalled his own men from foraging and concentrated then in one place. He established a heavily fortified camp there and awaited the arrival of the emperor. When [Michael] arrived, he encamped over against Krum, who was sitting near Adrianople. There were frequent skirmishes and battles within archery range and, in all these encounters, the Romans seemed to have the upper hand. This went to the soldiers' heads; they urged and yearned for hand-to-hand fighting and a general engagement. Either out of cowardice (as they said in the ranks) or because he was looking for the opportune moment, the emperor delayed and held back. The host became mutinous and shouted at the emperor, to his face, threatening that, if he did not lead them out, they would break down the palisade themselves and fall upon the enemy..." (Translated by John Wortley, in: John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811-1057: Translation and Notes, p. 5)

References:

• Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum. Editio Princeps. Rec. Ioannes Thurn, p. 6, in: Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5 Series Berolinensis, 1973
• Tsamakda V.: The illustrated chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes in Madrid, p. 46-47
• Божилов Ив.: Българите във Византийската империя, p. 165
• Grabar A., Manoussacas M.: L'illustration du manuscript de Skylitzes de Madrid, p. 25
• Божков А.: Миниатюри от Мадридския ръкопис на Йоан Скилица, p. 190-191