Image: Bulgarian king Omurtag sends delegation to Byzantine emperor Michael II from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes

Description: Skyllitzes Matritensis, fol. 35r, detail. Miniature: The Bulgarian ruler Mortagon (Omurtag) receives envoys from the Byzantine Emperor Michael II (s. Tsamakda) or sends envoys to Michael II (s. Божилов). Text from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes: "... Meanwhile, the word having gone out through the whole world that the Roman emperor lay besieged and confined within his own walls, Mortagon, king of the Bulgars, sent him a secret message announcing that he would send help of his own free will and conclude a treaty with him. Either because he really did have pity on his fellow country men or because he resented the expense (he was the most parsimonious emperor there ever was), Michael thanked the Bulgar for his intentions but refused the proferred aid. ..." (Translated by John Wortley, in: John Skylitzes: A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811-1057: Translation and Notes, p. 40) References: Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum. Editio Princeps. Rec. Ioannes Thurn, p. 37, in: Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5 Series Berolinensis, 1973 Tsamakda V.: The illustrated chronicle of Ioannes Skylitzes in Madrid, p. 75-76 Божилов Ив.: Българите във Византийската империя, p. 169 Grabar A., Manoussacas M.: L'illustration du manuscript de Skylitzes de Madrid, p. 36 Божков А.: Миниатюри от Мадридския ръкопис на Йоан Скилица, p. 195-196
Title: Bulgarian king Omurtag sends delegation to Byzantine emperor Michael II from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes
Credit: Madrid Skylitzes
Author: John Skylitzes
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
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