Bulgar-Serb War (853)
Part of theBulgarian–Serbian wars (medieval)
Serb lands in the 9th century
Date 853 or 854 Location Central Balkans Result Serbian victory
Belligerents
First Bulgarian Empire	Serbian Principality
Commanders and leaders
Boris I Vladimir-Rasate (POW)	Mutimir Strojimir Gojnik
Casualties and losses
Vladimir and 12 boyars captured

TheBulgarian-Serbian War of 853 was fought between theFirst Bulgarian Empire and theSerbian Principality. It was the second conflict of the medievalBulgarian–Serbian Wars.^[1][2][3]

After the death of PrinceVlastimir ofSerbia inc. 850, his state was divided between his sons. Vlastimir andPresian, Boris' father, had fought each other in theBulgar-Serb War (839–42), which resulted in a Serbian victory. Boris sought to avenge that defeat, an in 853 or 854, the Bulgar army led byVladimir-Rasate, the son ofBoris I, invaded Serbia, with the aim to replace the Byzantine overlordship on the Serbs. The Serbian army was led byMutimir and his two brothers, who defeated the Bulgars, capturing Vladimir and 12boyars.^[4] Boris I and Mutimir agreed on peace (and perhaps an alliance),^[1] and Mutimir sent his sonsPribislav andStefan to the border to escort the prisoners, where they exchanged items as a sign of peace. Boris himself gave them "rich gifts", while he was given "twoslaves, twofalcons, twodogs, and 80furs".^[5][6][7]

An internal conflict among the Serbian brothers resulted in Mutimir banishing the two younger brothers to the Bulgarian court.^[1] Mutimir, however, kept a nephew,Petar, in his court for political reasons.^[8] The reason of the feud is not known, though it is postulated that it was a result of treachery.^[8] Petar would later defeatPribislav, Mutimir's son, and take the Serbian throne.

• Bulgarian–Serbian medieval wars
• Bulgar-Serb War (839–42)
• Medieval Bulgarian Army
• Medieval Serbian Army

Primary sources

• Moravcsik, Gyula, ed. (1967) [1949].Constantine Porphyrogenitus: De Administrando Imperio (2nd revised ed.). Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies.ISBN 978-0-88402-021-9.

Secondary sources

• 9th century in Serbia
• 9th century in Bulgaria
• Wars involving medieval Serbian states
• Wars involving the First Bulgarian Empire
• 850s conflicts
• Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars
• Bulgarian–Serbian Wars
• Principality of Serbia (early medieval)

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata