Krakra of Pernik (Bulgarian:Кракра Пернишки,Krakra Pernishki), also known asKrakra Voevoda or simplyKrakra, was an 11th-centuryBulgarian feudal lord in theFirst Bulgarian Empire whose domain encompassed 36 fortresses in what is today southwesternBulgaria, with his capital atPernik. He is known for heroically resistingByzantine sieges on multiple occasions as the Byzantines overran the Bulgarian Empire.
Krakra was a "man remarkable in military affairs" and a high-rankingbolyarin, possibly governor of the Sredetscomitatus, under theTsarsSamuil,Gavril Radomir andIvan Vladislav. His name appears in the historical annals in connection to a Byzantine military campaign in the Bulgarian lands in 1003 when Samuil's army was crushed at theVardar and the Byzantinescaptured Skopje. AsBasil II's forces headed to seizeSredets, however, in 1004 they came up against Krakra's well-defended fortress of Pernik, and the emperor was forced to return toConstantinople after sustaining heavy losses.
In 1016, another campaign by Basil II was stopped by Krakra at Pernik after an unsuccessful 88-day Byzantine siege. As the Byzantine-Bulgarian conflict continued, Krakra and Ivan Vladislav looked forPecheneg support for a large-scale Bulgarian campaign against the Byzantines and initially persuaded the Pechenegs to collaborate in the winter of 1016–1017. However, the Byzantine governor ofDorystolon learned about the plan and notified Basil II. Upon hearing this, the Pechenegs declined to take part, effectively ruining the Bulgarian plans.
Following the death of Ivan Vladislav atDyrrhachium in early 1018, Basil II entered the Bulgarian territory in March 1018 without meeting any resistance. AtAdrianople, Krakra and 35 other bolyari's envoys met with him and after negotiating generous concessions from Basil II, including creating Theme Bulgaria and a separate Bulgarian archbishop chose to join the Eastern Roman Empire.[1] Basil II met with Krakra personally inSerres and awarded him the title ofpatrikios.
Krakra Bluff onLivingston Island in theSouth Shetland Islands,Antarctica is named after Krakra.