Puzzling Numbers in Leo Choirosphaktes’ Epistolography: Exaggerated, Correct or (Un)reliable?

The letters of the high Byzantine official Magister Leo Choirosphaktes provide numerous notable and informative accounts. It is no coincidence that his correspondence with the Bulgarian ruler Symeon I the Great holds a distinct and significant place among the primary sources of the early medieval period. This epistolary collection offers valuable insights into the abduction of civilian imperial subjects from Eastern Thrace during the Byzantine-Bulgarian War of 894–896. However, an ongoing debate persists regarding a record that refers to the puzzlingly large number of 120,000 captives. This presentation focuses on several key questions, including the origins, accuracy, and overall reliability of this record.