Battle of Setina

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 a number of fortresses. Following an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation with the emperor, Tsar Ivan Vladislav organised resistance. In 1017, Basil II invaded Bulgaria and reached Setina.  

The battle ended in a heavy defeat for the Bulgarians. Tsar Ivan Vladislav died. Nevertheless, the Battle of Setina did not determine the ultimate outcome of the war. Following his successes, Basil II withdrew to Constantinople in January 1018. The Bulgarians saw this as an opportunity and decided to attack the Adriatic port of Dyrrachium. Only the death of Tsar Ivan Vladislav beneath the walls of this fortress brought about the collapse of resistance to the Byzantines. The First Bulgarian Empire ceased to exist, and by the beginning of 1019, its last territories still outside Byzantine control had been conquered.