Basil II

Basil II "Bulgaroktonus" (in Greek Basilios Bulgaroktonos, written Βασίλειος Βουλγαροκτόνος, (en) "The Bulgar-Slayer" (958 – December 15, 1025)) Byzantine emperor (January 10, 976 – December 15, 1025) led the Byzantine Empire to its greatest heights in nearly five centuries. However, he left no worthy heir and most of his achievements were undone by a long line of weak successors.

Bulgarian and Khazar campaigns

However, Basil was far from done. He wanted to restore to the empire territories that had long slipped from its grasp. As the second millennium got under way, he took on his greatest adversary, Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria.

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When all-out war broke out in 1002, Samuil had extended the Bulgarian kingdom from the Danube River in the north all the way into Greece, stopping just north of Athens. His rule extended from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, and all of this territory had been conquered over the past 300 years at the expense of the Byzantines. Basil was determined to reverse the fortunes of the empire.

Related Topics:
1002 - Greece - Athens - Adriatic - Black Sea

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The war ravaged the Balkans for the next dozen years, as Basil and Samuil each won impressive victories. Samuil's force was outnumbered numerically, but he was able to avoid fighting a general engagement while harassing Basil's forces as they advanced through Bulgarian territory. Samuil hoped to wear down the Byzantine forces and either defeat them, or force Basil to make peace.

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Finally, on July 29, 1014, Basil II cornered the Bulgarian army and forced it to fight at the Battle of Kleidion, with Samuil several miles away from the battlefield. He crushed the Bulgarians and took 14,000 prisoners. Basil was said to have blinded 99 of every 100 of the prisoners, with every 100th man left with only one eye to guide the rest home. Although maybe an exaggeration, this gave Basil his nickname Bulgaroktonus, "the Bulgar-slayer."

Related Topics:
July 29 - 1014 - Battle of Kleidion

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When Samuil saw his blinded troops return, he is said to have died of sorrow. Bulgaria fought on for four more years, but finally submitted in 1018. The victory over the Bulgarians and the subsequent submission of the Serbs fulfilled one of Basil's goals, as the empire regained its ancient Danube River frontier for the first time in 400 years.

Related Topics:
Bulgaria - 1018 - Serbs - Danube River

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Meanwhile, in 1016, Byzantine armies, in conjunction with princes of the Kievan Rus, attacked the Crimea, much of which had fallen under the sway of the Khazar successor kingdom of Georgius Tzul, based at Kerch. Kedrenos reports that Georgius Tzul was captured and the Khazar successor-state was destroyed.

Related Topics:
Byzantine armies - Kievan Rus - Crimea - Khazar - Georgius Tzul - Kerch - Kedrenos

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