Relationship_with_Byzantium South_Slavs

byzantine literary accounts (i.e., john of ephesus, etc.) mention slavs raiding areas of greece during 580s. according later sources such miracles of saint demetrius, drougoubitai, sagoudatai, belegezitai, baiounetai, , berzetai laid siege thessaloniki in 614–616. however, particular event in actuality of local significance. combined effort of avars , slavs 2 years later failed take city. in 626, combined avar, bulgar , slav army besieged constantinople. siege broken, had repercussions upon power , prestige of avar khanate. slavic pressure on thessaloniki ebbed after 617/618, until siege of thessalonica (676–678) coalition of rynchinoi, sagoudatai, drougoubitai , stroumanoi attacked. time, belegezites known velegeziti did not participate , in fact supplied besieged citizens of thessaloniki grain.

a number of medieval sources attest presence of slavs in greece. while en route holy land in 732, willibald reached city of monemvasia, in land of slavinia . particular passage vita willibaldi interpreted indication of slavic presence in hinterland of peloponnese. in reference plague of 744–747, constantine vii wrote during 10th century entire country [of peloponnese] slavonized . source period, chronicle of monemvasia speaks of slavs overrunning western peloponnese, of eastern peloponnese, athens, remaining in byzantine hands throughout period. however, such sources far ideal, , reliability debated. example, while byzantinist peter charanis believes chronicle of monemvasia reliable account, other scholars point out overstates impact of slavic , avar raids of greece during time.

max vasmer, prominent linguist , indo-europeanist, complements late medieval historical accounts listing 429 slavic toponyms peloponnese alone. extent presence of these toponyms reflects compact slavic settlement matter of debate, , might represent accumulative strata of toponyms rather being attributed earliest settlement phase

though medieval chroniclers attest slavic hordes occupying byzantine territories, archaeological evidence of actual slavic presence , dating today debated. florin curta points out evidence of substantial slavic presence not appear before 7th century , remains qualitatively different slavic culture found north of danube. authors point rapid adoption of local balkanic cultures slav-speaking groups in specific areas such dalmatia. there, investigations of burial graves , cemetery types indicate uninterrupted continuity of traditions late antiquity, reflecting contiguous demographic spread chronologically matches arrival of slavic-speaking groups. furthermore, when medieval sources speak of places going slavs , mean byzantine authority disappeared, not these regions had witnessed large-scale migration; doubtless many local people governed themselves. indeed, in wake of roman collapse, communities in balkan interior , hinterland became slavs creating new identities , adopting new language, oriented toward east-central europe rather graeco-mediterranean world. timothy gregory surmises:

t e gregory, history of byzantium. wiley-blackwell, 2010. pg 169

relations between slavs , greeks peaceful apart (supposed) initial settlement , intermittent uprisings. being agriculturalists, slavs traded greeks inside towns. furthermore, slavs surely did not occupy whole interior or eliminate greek population; greek villages continued exist in interior, governing themselves, possibly paying tribute slavs. villages mixed, , quite possibly degree of hellenization of slavs greeks of peloponnese had begun during period, before re-hellenization completed byzantine emperors.

when byzantines not fighting in eastern territories, able regain imperial control. achieved through theme system, referring administrative province on army corps centered, under control of strategos ( general ). theme system first appeared in 7th century, during reign of emperor heraclius, , byzantine empire recovered, imposed on areas came under byzantine control. first balkan theme created in thrace, in 680 ad. 695, second theme, of hellas (or helladikoi ), established, in eastern central greece. subduing slavs in these themes matter of accommodating needs of slavic elites , providing them incentives inclusion imperial administration.

it not until 100 years later third theme established. in 782–784, eunuch general staurakios campaigned thessaloniki, south thessaly , peloponnese. captured many slavs , transferred them elsewhere, anatolia (these slavs dubbed slavesians). not known whether territory restored imperial authority result of campaign, though was. sometime between 790 , 802, theme of macedonia created, centered on adrianople (i.e., east of actual geographic entity). serious , successful recovery began under nicephorus (802–811). in 805, theme of peloponnese created. according chronicle of monemvasia in 805 byzantine governor of corinth went war slavs, obliterated them, , allowed original inhabitants claim own; city of patras recovered , region re-settled greeks. in 9th century, new themes continued arise, although many small , carved out of original, larger themes. new themes in 9th century included of thessalonica, dyrrhachium, strymon, , nicopolis. these themes, byzantine laws , culture flowed interior. end of 9th century of greece culturally , administratively greek again, exception of few small slavic tribes in mountains such melingoi , ezeritai. although remain relatively autonomous until ottoman times, such tribes exception rather rule.

saints methodius , cyril, credited devising glagolitic alphabet, first alphabet used transcribe old church slavonic language.

apart military expeditions against slavs, re-hellenization process begun under nicephorus involved (often forcible) transfer of peoples. many slavs moved other parts of empire, such anatolia , made serve in military. in return, many greeks sicily , asia minor brought interior of greece, increase number of defenders @ emperor s disposal , dilute concentration of slavs. non-greeks transferred balkans, such armenians. more of peripheral territories of byzantine empire lost in following centuries, e.g., sicily, southern italy , asia minor, greek-speakers made own way greece. re-hellenization of greece through population transfers , cultural activities of church successful suggests slavs found in midst of many greeks. doubtful such large number have been transplanted greece in 9th century; there surely had been many greeks remaining in greece , continuing speak greek throughout period of slavic occupation. success of re-hellenization suggests number of slavs in greece far smaller numbers found in former yugoslavia , bulgaria. example, bulgaria not hellenized when byzantine administration established on bulgarians in 1018 last on century, until 1186.

eventually, byzantines recovered imperial border north way today s region of macedonia (which serve northern border of byzantine empire until 1018), although independent slavic villages remained. slavs supposedly occupied entire balkan interior, constantinople cut off dalmatian cities under (nominal) control. dalmatia came have closer ties italian peninsula, because of ability maintain contact sea (however, too, troubled slavic pirates). additionally, constantinople cut off rome, contributed growing cultural , political separation between 2 centers of european christendom.

control of slavic tribes nominal, retained own culture , language. however, slavic tribes of macedonia never formed own empire or state, , area switched between greek (byzantine), bulgarian, serbian , temporarily norman control. byzantines unable hellenize macedonia because progress north blocked bulgarian empire, , later serbian kingdom, both slavic states. however, byzantine culture nonetheless flowed further north, seen day bulgaria, republic of macedonia, , serbia part of orthodox world. in dalmatia, byzantine influence supplanted venice , rome, influence of byzantine culture persists.