Battle of Bitola

After decades of fighting to subjugate Bulgaria, Basil II won a decisive victory near Belasitsa in the summer of 1014. Taking advantage of the destabilisation of the Bulgarian state after Tsar Samuel's death on 6 October 1014, the Byzantines penetrated deep into Macedonia and captured fortress after fortress. Gavril Radomir proposed reconciliation with Byzantium, but his offer was rejected. Instead, the emperor began another campaign and headed towards the village of Klyuch. The troops of his commander Gonitsiates, however, fell into an ambush led by Ivats near Bitola and were routed.

On learning what had happened, the emperor entered the Bitola plain with his troops. Ivats avoided battle, however, and the emperor returned to Constantinople.