The Battle of the Southern Bug

The fighting took place during the Bulgarian-Byzantine war that began in 894 over increased charges on Bulgarian merchants in Byzantium. In 895, the Byzantine fleet, together with hired Magyar troops, headed towards the Danube's mouth to cross the river and conquer Bulgaria. Byzantine forces simultaneously advanced towards Bulgaria's land borders. The Byzantines penetrated Bulgaria, winning two battles and advancing deep into its territory. Simeon withdrew to Silistra to regroup. In 896, with the help of his father Boris I and the Pechenegs, he sent forces towards the country's northern frontier, where the battle took place.

The Byzantine army was defeated, and the Magyars suffered heavy losses in military strength. This victory enabled Simeon to transfer his troops south, where the Battle of Bulgarophygon took place in 896.