The Battle of the Gates of Trajan in August 986 marked a pivotal moment in the Byzantine-Bulgarian wars, where Emperor Basil II's inexperienced forces were overwhelmed, exposing significant military vulnerabilities.
The 'Kometopouloi' took advantage of the political turmoil in Byzantium following Emperor John I Tzimiskes's death, contributing to a decade of Bulgarian expansion that culminated in the disastrous 986 battle.
By 977, Samuil emerged as the Bulgarian leader, orchestrating successful military operations that disrupted Byzantine control and led to the capture of key territories in mainland Greece.
The struggle for power within Byzantium during the protracted civil war left the thematic forces in the Balkans weak and unprepared for the escalating Bulgarian threat.
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