Battle of Achelous (917)

Battle of Achelous
Part of the Byzantine–Bulgarian wars and Byzantine–Bulgarian war of 913–927
Seal of Simeon I
Date 20 August 917 Location Achelous river near Anchialus 42°38′35″N 27°38′12″E / 42.64306°N 27.63667°E / 42.64306; 27.63667 Result Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
Bulgarian Empire	Byzantine Empire
Commanders and leaders
Simeon I of Bulgaria	Leo Phokas
Strength
15,000[1]	30,000[2][3]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown (heavy)

The Battle of Achelous or Acheloos (Bulgarian: Битката при Ахелой, Greek: Μάχη του Αχελώου),^[4] also known as the Battle of Anchialus,^[5] took place on 20 August 917, on the Achelous river near the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, close to the fortress Tuthom (modern Pomorie) between Bulgarian and Byzantine forces. The Bulgarians obtained a decisive victory which not only secured the previous successes of Simeon I, but made him de facto ruler of the whole Balkan Peninsula, excluding the well-protected Byzantine capital Constantinople and the Peloponnese. The battle, which was one of the biggest and bloodiest battles of the European Middle Ages, was one of the worst disasters ever to befall a Byzantine army, and conversely one of the greatest military successes of Bulgaria.^[6] Among the most significant consequences was the official recognition of the imperial title of the Bulgarian monarchs, and the consequent affirmation of Bulgarian equality vis-à-vis Byzantium.