The Battle of Serdica

Khan Krum ascended the throne in 803. His foreign policy aimed to incorporate further territories inhabited by Slavic tribes, particularly to the south-west along the Struma and in Macedonia. These objectives could not be achieved without capturing the important Byzantine fortress of Serdica, which guarded those territories. In 809, Krum therefore besieged the city for several weeks. He promised to spare the Byzantine garrison if it surrendered voluntarily, and the Byzantines opened the gates without resistance.

The battle ended in victory for Khan Krum. Serdica was devastated, and according to some accounts its Byzantine garrison was massacred.