Military Second_Bulgarian_Empire

aerial view of shumen fortress, important stronghold in eastern bulgaria

the emperor of second bulgarian empire commander-in-chief of army; second-in-command velik (great) voivoda. detachments of army led voivoda. strator responsible defence of regions , recruitment of soldiers. in late 12th century, army numbered 40,000 men-at-arms. country mobilize around 100,000 men in first decade of 13th century; kaloyan reportedly offered baldwin i, leader of fourth crusade, 100,000 soldiers him take constantinople. end of 13th century, military declined , army reduced fewer 10,000 men—it recorded ivaylo defeated 2 byzantine armies of 5,000 , 10,000 men, , troops outnumbered in both cases. military strength increased political stabilization of bulgaria in first half of 14th century; army numbered 11,000–15,000 troops in 1330s. military supplied siege equipment, including battering rams, siege towers, , catapults.

the bulgarian army used various military tactics, relying on experience of soldiers , peculiarities of terrain. balkan mountains played significant role in military strategy , facilitated country s defence against strong byzantine army. during wartime, bulgarians send light cavalry devastate enemy lands on broad front, pillaging villages , small towns, burning crops, , taking people , cattle. bulgarian army mobile—for instance 4 days before battle of klokotnitsa, covered distance 3 times longer epirote army covered in week; in 1332 travelled 230 km (140 mi) in 5 days.

ottoman commander lala shahin on garrison of sofia.

bulgaria maintained extensive lines of fortresses protect country, capital tarnovo in centre. north lines along both banks of danube river. south 3 lines; first along balkan mountains, second along vitosha, northern rhodope mountains , sakar mountain, third along valley of river arda. west, line ran along valley of river south morava.

during second empire, foreign , mercenary soldiers became important part of bulgarian army , tactics. since beginning of rebellion of asen , peter, light, mobile cuman cavalry used against byzantines , later crusaders. kaloyan used 14,000 cavalrymen in battle of adrianople. cuman leaders entered ranks of bulgarian nobility; of them received high military or administrative posts in state. in 14th century, bulgarian army increasingly relied on foreign mercenaries, included western knights, mongols, ossetians, or wallachians. both michael iii shishman , ivan alexander had 3,000-strong mongol cavalry detachment in armies. in 1350s, emperor ivan alexander hired ottoman bands, did byzantine emperor. russians hired mercenaries.