Page "Simeon I of Bulgaria" Paragraph 18

Shortly after Simeon's visit to Constantinople, Constantine's mother Zoe returned to the palace on the insistence of the young emperor and immediately proceeded to eliminate the regents.

Through a plot, she managed to assume power in February 914, practically removing Patriarch Nicholas from the government, disowning and obscuring his recognition of Simeon's imperial title and rejecting the planned marriage of her son to one of Simeon's daughters.

Simeon had to resort to war to achieve his goals.

He invaded Thrace in the summer of 914 and captured Adrianople.

Zoe was quick to send Simeon numerous presents in order to conciliate him and managed to convince him to cede back Adrianople and withdraw his army.

In the following years, Simeon's forces were engaged in the northwestern Byzantine provinces, around Drač ( Durrës ) and Thessaloniki, but did not make a move against Constantinople.