7th Century
In the year 610, Heraclius of Carthage in Africa sailed from his homeland to Constantinople and defeated the East Roman emperor, assuming the title for himself. Only a decade later he made significant changes to certain elements in the East Roman Empire, the most outstanding being the change of official language from Latin to Greek. Clashes between the East Romans and the Slavic rebels in Macedonia and the rest of the Balkans were frequent, while the Slavic tribes north of the Danube under the leadership of Samo had also rebelled against the local power in their region, the Avars, defeating the latter and established their own kingdom. the Kingdom of Samo lasted until his death in the year 658, after which his domains fractured and were absorbed into other local entities.
During the year 674 Perbund was a rebel chieftain of a Slavic tribe from Macedonia, the Rouchinai, who lived in Salonika. He adopted several customs of the East Romans, and was conversant in the official language of the state, which was Greek. He decided to make an attempt at capturing Salonika while the East Romans under Constantine IV were pre-occupied with the Arab threat. As soon as the East Roman Emperor heard of the news he rushed back to the city where he had the rebel leader from Macedonia executed. Angered at the murder, various Slavic tribes gathered to subsequently attack the city and its East Roman establishment, which was followed by a siege on Constantinople by the Arabs for the next four years. As all of this was taking place, Bulgar tribes crossed the Danube unopposed and settled in Moesia, as the weaknesses of East Rome were exposed and exploited from all sides. Attempts by the East Romans to subdue them failed, and ultimately a Bulgar state was established on formerly East Roman territory, dangerously close to the capital, Constantinople. It was less than a decade after the death of Perbund, the rebel from Macedonia, that Asparuk and the rest of the Khan horde established the Bulgar state in the year 681. Aside from the weakness of East Rome, had Perbund of Macedonia not been at odds with the former and eventually slain, the probability of a Bulgar state transpiring would have been significantly diminished.
In the year 687 Justinian II brought over troops from the Asian provinces of East Rome to Europe and with their aid defeated a great number of Slavic rebels in Macedonia. Shortly afterward in the year 689, Justinian II inflicted further punishment and deported 200,000 Slavic-speakers from rebellious Macedonia who were resettled in Asia, where they were expected to provide 30,000 troops to serve East Rome against the Arabs. However, the Slavic troops revolted against Justinian II, and although later defeated along with the Arabs, several thousands of Slavic-speakers from Macedonia remained settled in Asia Minor after the event.
In the year 610, Heraclius of Carthage in Africa sailed from his homeland to Constantinople and defeated the East Roman emperor, assuming the title for himself. Only a decade later he made significant changes to certain elements in the East Roman Empire, the most outstanding being the change of official language from Latin to Greek. Clashes between the East Romans and the Slavic rebels in Macedonia and the rest of the Balkans were frequent, while the Slavic tribes north of the Danube under the leadership of Samo had also rebelled against the local power in their region, the Avars, defeating the latter and established their own kingdom. the Kingdom of Samo lasted until his death in the year 658, after which his domains fractured and were absorbed into other local entities.
During the year 674 Perbund was a rebel chieftain of a Slavic tribe from Macedonia, the Rouchinai, who lived in Salonika. He adopted several customs of the East Romans, and was conversant in the official language of the state, which was Greek. He decided to make an attempt at capturing Salonika while the East Romans under Constantine IV were pre-occupied with the Arab threat. As soon as the East Roman Emperor heard of the news he rushed back to the city where he had the rebel leader from Macedonia executed. Angered at the murder, various Slavic tribes gathered to subsequently attack the city and its East Roman establishment, which was followed by a siege on Constantinople by the Arabs for the next four years. As all of this was taking place, Bulgar tribes crossed the Danube unopposed and settled in Moesia, as the weaknesses of East Rome were exposed and exploited from all sides. Attempts by the East Romans to subdue them failed, and ultimately a Bulgar state was established on formerly East Roman territory, dangerously close to the capital, Constantinople. It was less than a decade after the death of Perbund, the rebel from Macedonia, that Asparuk and the rest of the Khan horde established the Bulgar state in the year 681. Aside from the weakness of East Rome, had Perbund of Macedonia not been at odds with the former and eventually slain, the probability of a Bulgar state transpiring would have been significantly diminished.
In the year 687 Justinian II brought over troops from the Asian provinces of East Rome to Europe and with their aid defeated a great number of Slavic rebels in Macedonia. Shortly afterward in the year 689, Justinian II inflicted further punishment and deported 200,000 Slavic-speakers from rebellious Macedonia who were resettled in Asia, where they were expected to provide 30,000 troops to serve East Rome against the Arabs. However, the Slavic troops revolted against Justinian II, and although later defeated along with the Arabs, several thousands of Slavic-speakers from Macedonia remained settled in Asia Minor after the event.
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