The Bulgarian–Serbian War of 853 was a conflict between the First Bulgarian Empire and the Serbian Principality. It was one of the early conflicts in the medieval Bulgarian–Serbian wars.
The conflict took place during the reign of Boris I of Bulgaria and the Serbian ruler Mutimir. Bulgarian forces were defeated by the Serbs, and Vladimir-Rasate and twelve Bulgarian boyars were captured during the fighting. The prisoners were subsequently released after negotiations between the two sides.
Prelude and the War
After the death of Prince Vlastimir of Serbia in c. 850, his state was divided between his sons. Vlastimir and Presian, Boris' father, had fought each other in the Bulgar-Serb War (839–42), which resulted in a Serbian victory. Boris sought to avenge that defeat, an in 853 or 854, the Bulgar army led by Vladimir-Rasate, the son of Boris I, invaded Serbia, with the aim to replace the Byzantine overlordship on the Serbs. The Serbian army was led by Mutimir and his two brothers, who defeated the Bulgars, capturing Vladimir and 12 boyars. Boris I and Mutimir agreed on peace (and perhaps an alliance), and Mutimir sent his sons Pribislav and Stefan to the border to escort the prisoners, where they exchanged items as a sign of peace. Boris himself gave them "rich gifts", while he was given "two slaves, two falcons, two dogs, and 80 furs".
Aftermath
An internal conflict among the Serbian brothers resulted in Mutimir banishing the two younger brothers to the Bulgarian court. Mutimir, however, kept a nephew, Petar, in his court for political reasons. The reason of the feud is not known, though it is postulated that it was a result of treachery. Petar would later defeat Pribislav, Mutimir's son, and take the Serbian throne.