The Fortress of Rusokastro in the Light of Historical Sources of 12th – 14th Centuries AD

Authors:

Pages: 417-421
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/NVOM1412

Abstract:

The fortress of Rusokastro is only 22 kilometers west of the bed of the Bay of Burgas, at the foot of the south approaches towards the Aytos Pass and at north approaches of the Strandja Pass of Kovchas. Its significance to Bulgaria and Byzantium in 13th – 14th c. is well attested in the historical sources of the epoch. The information in them regarding the military campaigns of Andronicus III Palaeologus, the emperor, in 1330 – 1331 is particularly important. According to Ioannis Kantakouzinos as well as Nikiphoros Grigoras the emperor acted in a foreign country, his armies robbed the native population and annihilated their crops. Rusokastro was one of the main targets of the military expeditions of both campaigns. In accordance with the last archaeological investigations the fortress was newly built in the beginning of 13th c., and after 1263 there was new building. The significance of Rusokastro becomes apparent as well because the military camps of Byzantium and the Kingdom of Bulgaria encamped at the fortress in the 14th c.

Keywords:

Rusokastro, fortress, sources, 13th – 14th Centuries

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