700 Years Since the Victory at Rusokastro: The Historical Significance of the Battle and Ongoing Excavations

The historical date of July 18 holds special significance for Bulgarian statehood and the territorial integrity of the Medieval Kingdom. In 1332, an epic battle unfolded under the walls of the Rusokastro fortress, in which the Bulgarian forces, led by Tsar Ivan Alexander, managed to achieve a decisive victory over the Byzantine army commanded by Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos.

The siege of the fortress led to the capitulation of the Byzantine ruler in late July, which changed the geopolitical map of the region. The concluded peace treaty not only ended Byzantine claims to the Southern Black Sea coast but also laid the foundations for a new dynastic alliance through the marriage between Princess Maria and the Bulgarian Prince Michael Asen.

As part of the upcoming commemorations, representatives of the Kameno Municipality and the Regional Historical Museum – Burgas will organize a ceremony involving the laying of wreaths at the monument of Tsar Ivan Alexander. The event is particularly significant as the Rusokastro area remains the subject of intensive archaeological research, led by the Burgas Museum, which continues to reveal the secrets of the medieval fortress.