Nikephoros’ army enters the Varbica Pass on…

July 811 CE

Nikephoros’ army enters the Varbica Pass on July 25, but his cavalry tells him the road is barred with thick wooden walls and Krum's detachments watch from the heights around.

The Emperor becomes panicked by the situation and repeatedly states to his companions "Even if we have had wings we could not have escaped from peril."

Before they can retreat, the Bulgars block the valley entrance also.

Nikephoros, unable to face attacking one of the palisades, simply sets up camp, despite his generals' misgivings.

By the third night, Greek morale is shattered, while Bulgarian troops bang their shields and taunt them.

On this night, the Bulgarians gather their troops and tighten the belt around the trapped enemy.

At dawn, they rush down and start to kill the panicked and totally confused imperial troops.

The tagmata are the first to be attacked.

The defenders fruitlessly resist for a short time and perish.

Upon seeing their comrades' fate, the next units immediately run away.

On their way south, the imperial forces hit a muddy river that is difficult to cross.

As they cannot find a ford quickly enough, many troops fall into the river.

The first stall in the mud with their horses and are trampled by those who come next.

The river is filled with so many dead that the chasing Bulgarians easily pass over them and continue the pursuit.

Those who pass through the river reach the wooden wall, which is high and thick.

The imperial cavalry leaves their horses and begins climbing the wall with hands and legs and hang over the other side.

The Bulgarians have dug a deep moat from the inner side and when the imperial soldiers are getting across the ramparts, they fall from the high wall, breaking their limbs.

Some of them die instantly, others hobble some time before falling to the ground and dying from thirst and hunger.

The imperial troops burn the wall at several places but as they are rushing to get across it, they too fall into the moat along with the burning parts of the palisade.

Almost everyone perishes; some are killed by the sword, others drown in the river or are mortally injured after falling from the wall and some of them die in the fire.

Among the nobles killed are the patricians Theodosios Salibaras and Sisinnios Triphyllios; the strategos of the Anatolics Romanos and the strategos of Thrace; as well as the commanders of the Excubitors and Vigla tagmata.

Reportedly, only a few survive the defeat.

The most notable person to be killed, however, is Emperor Nikephoros, who according to historians dies on a dunghill on the day of the battle.

Nikephoros son, Stauracius, is carried to safety by the Imperial bodyguard after receiving a paralyzing wound to his neck.

Six months later, his wounds finally will kill him.

According to tradition, Krum had the Emperor's head on a spike, then lined his skull with silver and used it as a drinking cup.