Battle of Dyrrachium

The Battle of Dyrrachium, fought in February 1018, formed part of the Byzantine–Bulgarian wars.

The Bulgarian state was destabilised after the Battle of Kleidion and Tsar Samuel's death in 1014. The following year, Tsar Gavril Radomir was murdered by his cousin Ivan Vladislav at the Byzantine emperor's urging. The new Bulgarian ruler concluded a brief peace with Basil II, promising him control of Dyrrachium. War broke out again in 1015, however. Tsar Ivan Vladislav sought to consolidate his authority on the southeastern Adriatic coast. He led his army against Dyrrachium in present-day Albania and besieged it in 1018. 

During a counterattack, Tsar Ivan Vladislav was killed by the city's defenders, and his troops were forced to withdraw. This battle was the final stage of the long struggle between the First Bulgarian Empire and Byzantium. After Vladislav's death, most of his empire fell under Byzantine rule, and the last independent region, Syrmia, surrendered in 1019. This event compelled most Bulgarian lords to submit to Basil II. Isolated resistance was suppressed, and Bulgaria became a Byzantine province.