[8][9] These extensive preparations were Krum's attempt to avenge his impotent failure at the Second Bulgarian Siege of Constantinople one year prior.

The son of Nikephoros (and legitimate heir to the Imperial Purple), Emperor Staurakios, was badly wounded and paralyzed in the battle, and was deposed in Autumn of the same year.

Prokopia failed to persuade her brother Staurakios, who wanted to have Michael blinded, to name the latter as his successor, a group of senior officials (the magistros Theoktistos, Domestic of the Schools Stephen, and as mentioned above Patriarch Nikephoros I of Constantinople) forced Staurakios to abdicate in favor of Michael on 2 October 811.

Bulgaria had also suffered heavy losses and great material damage[13] during Nikephoros' campaign, and needed to reorganize its army and replenish its resources.

"[14] In response to the Bulgarian despoliation Michael I organized a warhost, but was forced to return to Constantinople due to a conspiracy.

The Bulgarian delegation was led by a certain Dobromir,[16][17] and although the Byzantine Emperor refused to conclude the peace deal due to "his foul advisors" suggestions.

The real reason was most likely item three in the Byzantine–Bulgarian Treaty of 716 which stated that "The refugees [emigrants, deserters] from both sides shall be mutually surrendered, if they are plotting against the authorities.

They had siege machines built by an Arab emigrant and soon captured the town, where they found 36 copper siphons used to throw Greek fire and a large quantity of gold and silver.

In February 813 Bulgarian forces made several scouting raids into Thrace, but quickly pulled back after several clashes with the Byzantines.

John Skylitzes, in Synopsis Historian, stated that the Byzantine army was 10 times larger than the Bulgarian hosts.

Some of them were eager to attack and on the 22th of June, the strategos of Macedonia, named John Aplakes, addressed Michael and said, "How much are we going to wait and die?

The chief commanders of the Byzantine army, including the Emperor Michael I Rangabe and Leo the Armenian, were the first to retreat from the battlefield.

[26] The later Byzantine chronographers Genesius[27] and Theophanes Continuatus[28] accused Leo the Armenian of being primarily responsible for the defeat, claiming that he deliberately ordered the flight of the units that were still not engaged in the battle.

), while others like Vasil Zlatarski and a number of Greek scholars reject Leo's responsibility,[29] pointing to an alternative story that Genesius[30] and Theophanes Continuatus[31] also included in their texts.

The victory at Versinikia further worsened the situation of Byzantium and gave the Bulgarian Kanasubigi an opportunity to launch attacks in the vicinity of the Byzantine capital itself.

[32][33] Within sight of the citizens of Constantinople, Krum who was also the high priest, made a sacrifice to the Bulgar god Tangra, performed some pagan rituals, built trenches along the city's walls, and offered peace.

[32] Leo V agreed to negotiations, but he intended to kill Khan Krum and eliminate the threat over the Byzantine Empire.

[38] At that distance to the north is located the village of Malomirovo in whose surrounding was discovered an ancient Bulgarian inscription from the reign of Khan Krum.

[39] The center under the personal command of Krum was probably located in the area of contemporary town of Elhovo which is close to Malamirovo.