The war of 971 in Bulgaria: a model of conflict resolution for present superpowers
The war of 971 in Bulgaria: a model of conflict resolution for present superpowers

Summary/Abstract: The campaign led by John Tzimiskes in Bulgaria against Svyatoslav in 971 could be considered an example of conflict resolution and peace-building, according to the terminology of the present military science (the concepts are usually applied to modern international and civil wars). The complexity of that conflict involving, besides the Byzantine and Rus’ armies, the Bulgarians who were fighting in coalition with both parts, required a step by step conflict resolution, a particular way to treat with the enemy. For instance, Tzimiskes gave amnesty to those Bulgarians who fought on the side of the Rus’, before the end of the siege of Dorostolon. He wished to be seen as a liberator of Bulgaria (the capital Preslav conquered by the Rus’ in 968 was occupied by the Byzantine army during the 971 campaign). Later on, the emperor permitted the retreat of the enemy from Dorostolon, but ensuring a future alliance with the Pechenegs to prevent other invasions. For a present-day superpower like it was the Byzantine Empire in the 10th century, the evolution of this conflict provides some lessons of peace-building, such as the temporary recognition of the legitimate ruler of the invaded state (Boris II was freed by the Byzantine army), and the amnesty for those internal forces who fought on the side of the enemy. The victory of 971 was followed by an administrative organization that split in several parts the territory of Bulgaria, but this kind of conflict resolution proved to be not successful to annihilate the revival of that state after five years, by a rebellion in a peripheral area. This is another lesson for the present powers who are settling fundamentally different administration in a defeated country.

• Details
• Contents