.png)
TheUprising of Georgi Voyteh (Bulgarian:Въстание на Георги Войтех,romanized: Vastanie na Georgi Voyteh), or theSlavic uprising against the Byzantine rule (Serbian:Словенски устанак против византијске власти,romanized: Slovenski ustanak protiv vizantijske vlasti) was a wideSouth Slavic uprising against theByzantine rule, that broke out in centralBalkan regions soon after the devastating Byzantine defeat inAsia Minor, at theBattle of Manzikert (1071). The movement was initiated byBulgarian leaders in thetheme of Bulgaria, with assistance from theSerbian princeMichael I of Duklja, whose sonBodin was accepted by the rebels and proclaimed asemperor of Bulgaria, under the namePeter (1072). After some initial expansion, and several clashes with the Byzantines, the rebels were defeated by 1073. That was the second major attempt to restore theBulgarian Empire, after the failedUprising of Peter Delyan in 1040–1041.[1][2][3]
The main prerequisites for the uprising were the weakness of Byzantium after the invasions of thePechenegs in the lowerDanube, the great defeat at the hands of theSeljuk Turks in theBattle of Manzikert (1071) and theinvasion of the Normans from southern Italy as well as the rising taxes during the reign ofMichael VII.[4] The uprising was prepared by the Bulgarian nobility inSkopje led byGeorgi Voyteh. They chose the son of Serbian Prince ofDuklja Michael,Constantine Bodin as their leader, as he was a descendant of the Bulgarian EmperorSamuil.[5] In the autumn of 1072 Constantine Bodin arrived atPrizren where he was proclaimed Emperor of the Bulgarians under the name Peter III. The Serbian Prince sent 300 soldiers led byVojvoda Petrilo.[6]
An army underDamianos Dalassenos was immediately sent fromConstantinople to help thestrategos of theTheme of Bulgaria,Nikephoros Karantenos. In the battle that followed the Byzantine army was completely defeated. Dalassenos and other Byzantine commanders were captured and Skopie was taken by the Bulgarians troops.[7]
After that success the rebels tried to expand the area under their control. Constantine Bodin headed north and reached Naissus (modernNiš). Because some Bulgarian towns with Byzantine garrisons did not surrender, they were burned down. Petrilo marched southwards and captured Ochrid (modernOhrid) andDevol. However, near the town ofKastoria his large army was defeated by the Byzantines and some Bulgarian commanders who did not want to acknowledge Peter III as their ruler.[8]
Another army was sent from Constantinople under Michael Saronites. Saronites seized Skoupoi and in December 1072 he defeated the army of Constantine Bodin at a place known as Taonios (in the southern parts ofKosovo Polje). Constantine Bodin and Georgi Voyteh were captured.[9] The army which Prince Michael sent to relieve his son did not achieve anything because its commander, aNorman mercenary defected to the Byzantines. The rebellion was finally crushed in 1073 bydouxNikephoros Bryennios.[10]
