Certainty: 2 Peter Deljan, moving south from Hungarian border, was acclaimed tsar of Bulgaria
The resourceful and shifty Peter Deljan (whose name Psellos takes as Dolianos ["treacherous"]) escaped his master in Constantinople and wandered through Bulgaria (or Serbia and Croatia according to Skylitzes Continuatus). Knowing that an illustrious family background was considered a prerequisite to rule, he claimed in Morabos & Belgrade a kinship with the former Bulgarian king Samuel (either as his nephew by Tsar Aaron, according to Zonaras, or as his grandson by Radomir and the daughter of the Hungarian kral, according to Skylitzes). He was successful in this, and the Bulgarians, discontented by the tyrannical taxation of Ioannes the orphanotrophos, hailed him as tsar and sole ruler of their nation, following him in revolt against Byzantium. They marched through Naissus and Skopje, acclaiming him and killing any Roman they happened to meet
Certainty: 2 Army of Dyrrachion, having lost two generals & equipment, joined Bulgarian revolt under Tichomir Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Both Bulgarian rebel armies united behind Deljan, killing Tichomir Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Deljan sent troops who took Dyrrachion & caused casualties at Thebes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Capture of Demetrias by Deljan; inhabitants revolt & return it to doux of Thessalonike Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Theme of Nikopolis joined Bulgarian revolt, resenting strict taxation in cash, not kind Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael IV rose above sickness & raised a large army Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Alousianos, provoked by injustice, fled & reached Deljan in Bulgaria Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Recognition scene: identity of Alousianos confirmed as Bulgarian prince Certainty: 2
1041
Certainty: 2 Deljan & Alousianos plotted against each other; Alousianos won, blinding Deljan Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Petros Deljan, before blinding by Alousianos, was encouraged by a monk from Galesion Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Campaign of Michael IV in Bulgaria; capture of Boianos & Triaditza Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael IV captured Deljan & Manuel Ibatzes, crushed resistance & settled Bulgarian administration Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael returned unharmed to Constantinople, celebrating triumph over the blinded Deljan Certainty: 2