The Battle of Skopje

The Battle of Skopje in 1003, or 1004 according to other interpretations of the sources, was one of many clashes between Tsar Samuel and Emperor Basil II during their prolonged struggle.

After capturing Vidin following a long siege, Basil II led his army south along the Morava and reached Skopje's surroundings, where he faced Samuel's Bulgarian forces. The Vardar separated the armies, but the emperor found a ford and attacked.

Samuel's army escaped by withdrawing, abandoning its camp to the Byzantines. Skopje also temporarily fell under Byzantine rule. After his victory, Basil II advanced towards Sredets, but at Pernik he encountered fierce resistance from the Bulgarian voivode Krakra and was forced to withdraw with heavy losses to his territories around Philippopolis. Several theories concern the fate of Tsar Roman, who governed Skopje. One holds that he surrendered to the Byzantines; another that he had already died in Byzantine captivity in 997.