The Battle of Achelous, one of the most important battles in the long Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars, has foiled Constantinople’s designs on Bulgaria, secured the concession of the Imperial title to the Bulgarian rulers, and thereby firmly established Bulgaria's role as a key player in Europe.

Simeon has also demanded that his daughter be married Constantine VII, the son of empress Zoe Karbonopsina, but Zoe had refused and allied with Serbia and Hungary against him, which had postponed the decisive assault of Constantinople.

Simeon, deciding to secure his rear, had sent an army under Marmais and Theodore Sigritsa to destroy them.

His generals had captured the Serb prince but that had given the Empire precious time to recover.

Romanos Lekapenos, born in Lakape (Laqabin) between Melitene and Samosata (hence the name), was the son of an Armenian peasant with the remarkable name of Theophylact the Unbearable.

Theophylact, as a soldier, had rescued the Emperor Basil I from the enemy in battle at Tephrike and had been rewarded by a place in the Imperial Guard.

Although he did not receive any refined education (for which he will later be abused by his son-in-law Constantine VII), Romanos had advanced through the ranks of the army during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise.

In 911, he was general of the naval theme of Samos and later served as admiral of the fleet (droungarios tou ploimou).

In this capacity, he was supposed to have participated in the operations against Bulgaria on the Danube in 917, but had been unable to carry out his mission.

In the aftermath of the disastrous imperial defeat at the Battle of Acheloos, Romanos had sailed to Constantinople, where he is gradually overcoming the discredited regency of Empress Zoe and her supporter Leo Phokas.

Zoe’s attempted alliance with Serbia and the Magyars has failed to produce any concrete results, and the Arabs, encouraged by the empire's weakness, renew their raids.

A humiliating treaty with the Arabs of Sicily, who are asked to help subdue revolts in Italy, does little to improve the position of Zoe and her supporters.