The Battle of Thessalonica (Bulgarian: Битката при Солун) was part of the long Bulgarian–Byzantine war and it occurred in 995 or earlier, near the city of Thessalonica, Greece.
With Byzantine Emperor Basil II away on campaign in Anatolia, General Samuil of Bulgaria launched raids into the territories around Thessalonica. Lacking siege engines to assault the city, Samuil resorted to traditional Bulgarian ambush tactics. His forces succeeded in ambushing and destroying the city's Byzantine garrison, killing its commander Gregory Taronites and capturing his son Ashot. Although victorious, Samuil was not prepared to besiege Thessalonica and instead led his army south into Greece on a plundering expedition. Basil sent an army under his general Nikephoros Ouranos, who defeated Samuil in 997 at the Battle of Spercheios.
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