Telets of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Telets was the ruler of Bulgaria
from 762 to 765.
According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Telets reigned for 3 years "instead of another", and he was a member of the Ugain clan. This is corroborated by the Byzantine sources, which indicate that Telets replaced the legitimate rulers of Bulgaria. The same sources describe Telets as a brave and energetic man in his prime (about 30 years old). Scholars have conjectured that Telets may have belonged to an anti-Slavic faction of the Bulgarian nobility.
After his accession, Telets led a well-trained and well-armed army against the Byzantine Empire
and devastated the Empire's frontier zone, inviting the emperor to a contest of strength. Emperor Constantine V
Kopronymos marched north on June 16, 763, while another army was carried by a fleet of 800 ships (each carrying infantry and 12 horsemen) with the intent to create a pincer movement from the north.
Telets at first fortified the mountain passes with his troops and some twenty thousand Slavic auxiliaries. Later he changes his mind and led out his troops to the plain of Anchialos (Pomorie
) on June 30. The bloody battle of Anchialus
that then began at mid-morning, and lasted until dusk. At the end Telets was deserted by his Slavic auxiliaries, who deserted to the emperor, who won the field, but chose to return home in triumph. According to the Byzantine sources, Constantine V brought home a throng of Bulgarian prisoners in wooden restraints, for the entertainment of Constantinople
's populace.
The military defeat sealed the fate of Telets, who was lynched together with his supporters by his rebellious subjects.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Teles (i.e., Telets) as the son of Korymdžes (i.e., Kormisosh
), but this does not agree with the testimony of the Imennik, in which the former ruler belongs to the Ugain clan, and the latter to the Vokil clan. The Ja'far Tarikh alleges that Telets was killed in battle by the retainers of his successor Sabin
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
from 762 to 765.
According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Telets reigned for 3 years "instead of another", and he was a member of the Ugain clan. This is corroborated by the Byzantine sources, which indicate that Telets replaced the legitimate rulers of Bulgaria. The same sources describe Telets as a brave and energetic man in his prime (about 30 years old). Scholars have conjectured that Telets may have belonged to an anti-Slavic faction of the Bulgarian nobility.
After his accession, Telets led a well-trained and well-armed army against the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and devastated the Empire's frontier zone, inviting the emperor to a contest of strength. Emperor Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
Kopronymos marched north on June 16, 763, while another army was carried by a fleet of 800 ships (each carrying infantry and 12 horsemen) with the intent to create a pincer movement from the north.
Telets at first fortified the mountain passes with his troops and some twenty thousand Slavic auxiliaries. Later he changes his mind and led out his troops to the plain of Anchialos (Pomorie
Pomorie
Pomorie is a town and seaside resort in southeastern Bulgaria, located on a narrow rocky peninsula in Burgas Bay on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is situated in Burgas Province, 20 km away from the city of Burgas and 18 km from the Sunny Beach resort. The ultrasaline lagoon...
) on June 30. The bloody battle of Anchialus
Battle of Anchialus (763)
The battle of Anchialus occurred in 763, near the town of Pomorie on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast . The result was a Byzantine victory.- Origins of the conflict :...
that then began at mid-morning, and lasted until dusk. At the end Telets was deserted by his Slavic auxiliaries, who deserted to the emperor, who won the field, but chose to return home in triumph. According to the Byzantine sources, Constantine V brought home a throng of Bulgarian prisoners in wooden restraints, for the entertainment of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
's populace.
The military defeat sealed the fate of Telets, who was lynched together with his supporters by his rebellious subjects.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Teles (i.e., Telets) as the son of Korymdžes (i.e., Kormisosh
Kormisosh of Bulgaria
Kormisosh was a ruler of Bulgaria during the 8th century.The Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers states that he belonged to the Ukil clan and ruled for 17 years. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormisosh would have reigned from 737 to 754...
), but this does not agree with the testimony of the Imennik, in which the former ruler belongs to the Ugain clan, and the latter to the Vokil clan. The Ja'far Tarikh alleges that Telets was killed in battle by the retainers of his successor Sabin
Sabin of Bulgaria
Sabin was the ruler of Bulgaria from 765 to 766.Some scholars think that Sabin was omitted from the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers because he was a Slav, but his name could indicate Latin or even Iranian origins. He was related by marriage to Kormisosh, who was either a father-in-law or a...
.