Editing 1279 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[July 17]] &ndash; [[Battle of Devina]]: Emperor [[Michael VIII Palaiologos]] sends a Byzantine expeditionary force (some 10,000 men) to [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]], to impose his ally (and son-in-law) [[Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria|Ivan Asen III]] on the throne. Tsar [[Ivaylo of Bulgaria|Ivaylo]], former rebel leader (see [[Uprising of Ivaylo]]), attacks the Byzantines in the [[Kotel Pass]], completely routing them. Many of them perish in the battle – while the rest are captured and later killed by orders from Ivaylo. Later, Michael sends another army of some 5,000 men, but this is also defeated by Ivaylo before reaching the [[Balkan Mountains]]. Without support, Ivan Asen has to flee to [[Constantinople]] and the turmoil in Bulgaria continues.