Historical Figures Codexery

Basil II

The Bulgar Slayer who expanded the Byzantine Empire to its greatest extent in four centuries.

He acceded as effective senior emperor on 10 January 976 after the death of John I, having been co-emperor since 960.[1][2] He proved himself a successful soldier on horseback and an able general and strong ruler.[3]

Quick Facts

Reign
15 March 963 – 15 December 1025 (alone from 10 January 976)
Coronation
22 April 960
Predecessor
Romanos II
Successor
Constantine VIII
Dynasty
Macedonian
Mother
Theophano
Born
958
Birthplace
Constantinople, Byzantine Empire

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

After his father's death in 963, Basil and his brother Constantine were too young to rule, and power passed to the parakoimomenos Joseph Bringas.[1][4][5] He formed an alliance with Prince Vladimir I of Kiev, who supplied 6,000 soldiers in exchange for marriage to Basil's sister Anna.[6][7] Basil conquered Bulgaria after decades of war, culminating in the Battle of Kleidion on 29 July 1014, after which he reportedly blinded 15,000 prisoners.[8][9] According to the courtier Michael Psellos, Basil was stocky and shorter than average, yet he cut an impressive figure when riding a horse.[10]

Psellos recorded that Basil had light-blue eyes, prominent arched eyebrows, thick side whiskers, and, as he aged, only a thin beard.[10] Basil was described by Psellos as a poor speaker whose loud laugh would shake his entire body.[10] He held literary culture in contempt and openly disdained Byzantium's educated elite.[11]

What the cited sources add

Psellos records that the defeated Skleros advised Basil to cut down over-proud governors and admit no woman to imperial councils.[12]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Garland 2002, p. 128, 271 (note 13); Treadgold 1997, p. 494; .; .; .; .; . (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: .; Kaldellis 2017, p. 43; Cartwright 2017; Kaldellis 2017, p. 43; Vogt 1923a, p. 79; Brubaker Tougher 2016, p. 313; Talbot Sullivan 2005, p. 22, 220; Vogt 1923b, p. 84 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: * * * (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Garland 2002, p. 128, 271 (note 13); .; . (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cartwright 2017; .; Garland 2002, p. 128, 271 (note 13); Whittow 1996, p. 348; Garland 2002, p. 128, 271 (note 13); Treadgold 1997, p. 494; Stephenson 2010, p. 66–80; Bury 1911, p. 476; Holmes 2003; ODB, p. "Porphyrogennetos" (M. McCormack), p. 1701; Garland 2002, p. 128, 271 (note 13); Treadgold 1997, p. 494 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stephenson 2000, p. 62 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Cross Morgilevski Conant 1936, p. 479 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stephenson 2010, p. 66–80; Stephenson 2010, p. 66–80 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ODB, p. "Porphyrogennetos" (M. McCormack), p. 1701; Bury 1911, p. 476; Stephenson 2010, p. 66–80 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sewter 1953, p. 48–49; Head 1980, p. 233–234 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sewter 1953, p. 48–49; Sewter 1953, p. 48–49 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "Basil II" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sewter 1953, p. 48–49 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Basil II (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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