Editing Samuel of Bulgaria (section)

===Further Byzantine successes===
[[File:Victory of the Byzantines over the Bulgarians from John Skylitzes.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Victory of the Byzantines over the Bulgarians.]]
The Byzantines took advantage of the Bulgarian troubles in the north. In 1003, Basil II led a large army to Vidin, northwestern Bulgaria's most important town. After an eight-month siege, the Byzantines ultimately captured the fortress,<ref name="Skylitzes, p. 454">Skylitzes, p. 454.</ref> allegedly due to betrayal by the local bishop.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ivanov |first=Jordan |title=Bulgarian historical monuments in Macedonia (Balgarski starini iz Makedoniya, Български старини из Македония) |year=1970 |orig-year=1931 |publisher=Nauka i izkustvo |location=Sofia |page=557 |language=bg |oclc=3736478 }}</ref> The commanders of the town had repulsed all previous attempts to break their defence, including the use of [[Greek fire]].<ref name=prokic30>Prokić, p. 30.</ref> While Basil's forces were engaged there, Samuel struck in the opposite direction: on 15 August he attacked [[Adrianople]] and plundered the area.<ref>Skylitzes, pp. 454–455.</ref>

Basil II decided to return to Constantinople afterwards, but, fearing an encounter with the Bulgarian army on the main road to his capital, he used an alternate route.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} The Byzantines marched south through the [[Great Morava|Morava]] valley and reached a key Bulgarian city, [[Skopje]], in 1004. The Bulgarian army was camping on the opposite side of the [[Vardar River]]. After finding a ford and crossing the river, Basil II attacked and [[Battle of Skopje|defeated]] Samuel's unsuspecting army, using the same tactics employed at [[Battle of Spercheios|Spercheios]].<ref>Skylitzes, p. 455.</ref> The Byzantines continued east and besieged the fortress of [[Pernik]]. Its governor, [[Krakra]], was not seduced by Basil's promises of a noble title and wealth, and successfully defended the fortress. The Byzantines withdrew to Thrace after suffering heavy losses.<ref name="Skylitzes, p. 454"/><ref>Zlatarski, pp. 685–687.</ref>

In the same year, Samuel undertook a march against Thessaloniki. His men ambushed and captured its governor, Ioannes Chaldus,<ref name=prokic30/><ref>Actes d'Iviron I. ''Des origines au milieu du XIe siècle, Archives de l'Athos XIV'', eds. J.Lefort, N.Oikonomides, D.Papachryssanthou, H.Métrévéli (Paris, 1985), doc. 8</ref> but this success could not compensate for the losses the Bulgarians had suffered in the past four years. The setbacks in the war demoralized some of Samuel's military commanders, especially the captured Byzantine nobles. Samuel's son-in-law Ashot, the governor of Dyrrhachium, made contact with the local Byzantines and the influential [[John Chryselios]], Samuel's father-in-law. Ashot and his wife boarded one of the Byzantine ships that were beleaguering the town and fled to Constantinople. Meanwhile, Chryselios surrendered the city to the Byzantine commander [[Eustathios Daphnomeles]] in 1005, securing the title of patrician for his sons.<ref name="Skylitzes, p. 451"/><ref>Ostrogorsky, G. ''History of the Byzantine state'' (''Istorija Vizantije'', ''Исторijа Византиje''), pp. 404–405.</ref>

In 1006–1007, Basil II penetrated deep into the Bulgarian-ruled lands<ref>Gilferding, p. 250.</ref> and in 1009 Samuel's forces were defeated at [[battle of Kreta|Kreta]], east of Thessaloniki.<ref name=zlatarski>Златарски, pp. 689–690.</ref> During the next years, Basil launched annual campaigns into Bulgarian territory, devastating everything on his way.<ref name="Skylitzes, p. 457">Skylitzes, p. 457.</ref> Although there was still no decisive battle, it was clear that the end of the Bulgarian resistance was drawing nearer; the evidence was the fierceness of the military engagements and the constant campaigns of both sides which devastated the Bulgarian and Byzantine realms.<ref name=zlatarski/><ref>Daulaurier, p. 37.</ref>{{Clarify|date=October 2008}}<!-- this last sentence doesn't make much sense -->