Solemn Marking of 1,038 Years since Battle of Trajan's Gates Held at Stenos Fortress

Dimitrina Solakova, BTA correspondent Ivan Laskin

Marking of 1,038th anniversary of the battle at Trayanovi Vrata Pass with various events at Stenos Fortress, Southwestern Bulgaria, August 16, 2024 (BTA Photo/Ivan Laskin)

Trayanovi Vrata, Southwestern Bulgaria,

17.08.2024 09:20

(BTA)

On the eve of August 17, when 1,038 years ago King Samuil defeated the army of Byzantine Emperor Basil II at Trayanovi Vrata Pass [Trajan's Gates Pass], residents and guests of Kostenets Municipality marked the anniversary at Stenos Fortress.

The solemn celebration mottoed "Bulgaria - the State of the Spirit" began with the laying of wreaths and flowers by representatives of the municipal and state authorities, guests and residents of the municipality in front of a memorial plaque erected in memory of all the fallen soldiers. Men and women were dressed up in thematic clothes from the time of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.

Mayor of Kostenets Yordan Angelov said that Samuil's victory over the Byzantine Emperor gave the opportunity to restore Bulgarian power. "I am proud that today, 1,038 years later, we have the opportunity to look back to that era, to one of the most fateful battles between the Bulgarian Kingdom and the Byzantine Empire," Angelov added. In his words, Bulgarian history is a source of pride.

Welcoming speeches to the attendees were made by Kostenets Municipal Council Chair Pavlina Petrova and MPs from Sofia Region Mladen Marinov and Marin Marinov. Petrova said that the victory at the pass shows the strength of the Bulgarian spirit. Marin Marinov said that every Bulgarian feels proud at this place. He added that we are descendants of great people. Mladen Marinov said that King Samuil achieved victory because Bulgaria was strong and united.

The solemn marking of the anniversary also included a musical and poetic play telling the story of Samuil's victory, thematic music and dance performances.

The event was part of the project "Research and Promotion of the Cultural and Historical Heritage of Kostenets Municipality", funded under the Rural Development Programme through the Community-led Local Development Strategy of Kostenets - Dolna Banya Local Initiative Group, Kostenets Municipality said.

On August 17, 986, the Bulgarian army, led by King Samuil, defeated the invading Byzantine troops of Emperor Basil II in the Battle of Trajan's Gates (a mountain pass in the Ihtiman Sredna Gora Range, 70 km east of Sofia). The Byzantine army was routed, and Basil II barely escaped. This was the worst defeat suffered by Basi II during his campaign to conquer the Bulgarian Kingdom.

/DS/