Kan Vineh

After Khan Kormisosh’s death, Khan Vineh of the Vokil dynasty ascended the throne. While internal strife and popular discontent continued in the Bulgarian state, the Byzantine Empire increasingly strengthened its positions along the southern border with Bulgaria. In 755, Emperor Constantine V resettled Syrian and Armenian populations in the depopulated Theme of Thrace, particularly in the territories around Adrianople and Philippopolis. He built a series of fortresses for them and provided them with ample material resources. It was clear that the emperor was consolidating his positions and preparing an advance into Bulgarian territory. Khan Kormisosh sent envoys to protest to the emperor about these actions, which were regarded as a violation of the peace treaty, but they were driven away. In response, the Bulgarians attacked the Byzantines. Although they succeeded in devastating several fortresses in Thrace, they ultimately suffered defeat.

Archaeological evidence indicates intensive construction of earthwork defences, including ditches and ramparts, in the second half of the 8th century. Khan Vineh evidently undertook these measures to protect Bulgarian territory in response to the Byzantine emperor’s actions. In 760, Emperor Constantine V Kopronymos launched a major campaign against Bulgaria. One attack came by sea, with ships carrying cavalry that landed at the mouth of the Danube and devastated extensive territories from there. A second army, led by the emperor, invaded eastern Thrace with the aim of taking the Veregava Pass in the Balkan Mountains, now the Rish Pass. There, however, the Byzantines were surprised and defeated by Bulgarian forces. The Bulgarians reached the fortress of Marcellae, near present-day Karnobat, but were defeated there by the Byzantine army. Following this setback, the Bulgarian ruler began armistice negotiations with the Byzantine emperor. As a result of the peace treaty, the Bulgarians lost the region of Zagore. Vineh’s reign thus came to an end: the Bulgarian aristocracy, dissatisfied with his policy, organised a conspiracy and killed the khan.