Deljan, Peter

   Self-proclaimed son of Samuel of Bulgaria (q.v.) who engendered a brief revolt from 1040-1041 against Byzantine domination of Bulgaria. The revolt was provoked by the ruthlessness of Byzantine tax-collectors, made worse in 1040 by a decision of John the Orphanotrophos (q.v.) to demand cash instead of payment in kind. Insurgents who seized Belgrade, Nish, and Skopje (qq.v.) soon had the support of troops from the themes of Dyrrachion and Nikopolis (qq.v.). Dyrrachion was captured, as was Nikopolis, Serdica, and Demetrias (qq.v.). However, the attempt to seize Thessalonike (q.v.) failed and in 1041 the ringleaders fell out with each other. The revolt ended when Alousianos (q.v.), co-ruler with Peter Deljan, betrayed his partner to Michael IV (q.v.).