{"version":2,"locale":"en","id":"story.samuil-kleidion-1014","hasFind":true,"slug":"samuil-kleidion-1014","url":"/en/stories/samuil-kleidion-1014/","topic":"Samuil","title":"Samuil: holding out for almost forty years","summary":"A stone inscription preserves a family’s names. A coin shows Basil II, Samuil’s opponent. Defeat at Kleidion does not end the state.","cover":{"title":"Samuil: holding out for almost forty years","subtitle":"Samuil beside the lakes and at war with Basil II","hook":"How did Samuil hold out so long?","summary":"A stone inscription preserves a family’s names. A coin shows Basil II, Samuil’s opponent. Defeat at Kleidion does not end the state.","takeaway":"Fortresses and moving the royal court probably helped sustain resistance. Byzantium was also busy with civil wars. After defeat in 1014, the Bulgarian state resisted until 1018."},"sortYear":1014,"firstActivity":6,"epoch":{"id":"epoch.tsardom1","styleId":"tsardom1","sortOrder":5,"title":"First Bulgarian Tsardom","dateLabel":"681–1018","eraShort":"First Tsardom","slug":"tsardom1","fill":"#A68A68","ink":"#221616","raised":"#B39C7F","dark":"#786546"},"epochId":"epoch.tsardom1","placeShort":"Klyuch and Prespa","date":"1014","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-480.d0246713.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-960.d0246713.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-1600.d0246713.avif","w":1600},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-2400.d0246713.avif","w":2400}],"dominant":"#928983","h":1316,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-960.d0246713.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-960.d0246713.webp","id":"asset.sam.inscription-plate-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription.","objectCaption":"Family inscription","caption":"","kind":"archive","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SamuilUspenskyBGHistory.png","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"},"scenes":[{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s1-long-resistance","number":1,"kind":"narrative","title":"Samuil leads armies","body":"In 971 the Byzantines captured Preslav, the Bulgarian capital. Parts of the southwest seem to have remained outside Byzantine control. Samuil and his brothers led the struggle in the following years. Almost forty years passed from around 976 to his death in 1014.\n\nTheir opponent was Byzantium, our name for the Eastern Roman Empire. Its capital was Constantinople. Its emperor was Basil II. Samuil first led armies, then became tsar, or Bulgarian emperor. How did his state survive so long?","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-basil-portrait-480.20032245.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-basil-portrait-960.20032245.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-basil-portrait-1258.20032245.avif","w":1258}],"dominant":"#8d784b","h":1580,"w":1258,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-basil-portrait-960.20032245.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-basil-portrait-960.20032245.webp","id":"asset.sam.basil-portrait","alt":"Miniature from the Psalter of Basil II, eleventh century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr.Z.17, fol.3r. An image of authority, not a depiction of Kleidion.","objectCaption":"Miniature from the Psalter of Basil II, eleventh century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr.Z.17, fol.3r. An image of authority, not a depiction of Kleidion.","caption":"","kind":"archive","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Unknown medieval artist · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Unknown medieval artist / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Miniature from the Psalter of Basil II, eleventh century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr.Z.17, fol.3r. An image of authority, not a depiction of Kleidion. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Unknown medieval artist / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Miniature from the Psalter of Basil II, eleventh century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr.Z.17, fol.3r. An image of authority, not a depiction of Kleidion. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BasilII.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":35.437,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s1-long-resistance","duration":35.541,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s1-long-resistance.b2c1463a.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel"},{"id":"src.sam.naim-catalogue"},{"id":"src.sam.media.basil-portrait"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s2-lake-centres","number":2,"kind":"map","title":"Palaces beside two lakes","body":"Look at Ohrid and Prespa, two centres beside lakes. Ohrid had royal palaces and a treasury, where rulers kept their wealth. Its fortress stands on a hill. Prespa was also a royal residence, where the ruler lived and governed. The large church of Saint Achilles stood there.\n\nThe royal court means the ruler and the people helping him govern. They could probably move between these centres when danger threatened.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-ohrid-480.ba55119c.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-ohrid-960.ba55119c.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-ohrid-1600.ba55119c.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#5a5b5a","h":904,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-ohrid-960.ba55119c.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-ohrid-960.ba55119c.webp","id":"asset.sam.ohrid","alt":"Modern evening view of the fortifications, with lighting and a modern flag. It does not reconstruct their appearance under Samuil.","objectCaption":"Modern evening view of the fortifications, with lighting and a modern flag. It does not reconstruct their appearance under Samuil.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern evening view of the fortifications, with lighting and a modern flag. It does not reconstruct their appearance under Samuil. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern evening view of the fortifications, with lighting and a modern flag. It does not reconstruct their appearance under Samuil. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samuil%27s_Fortress_in_Ohrid_(%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%80%D1%92%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%83_%D0%9E%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D1%83).jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-prespa-480.56b0ecd2.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-prespa-960.56b0ecd2.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-prespa-1600.56b0ecd2.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#728489","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-prespa-960.56b0ecd2.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-prespa-960.56b0ecd2.webp","id":"asset.sam.prespa","alt":"Modern photograph of the basilica remains: walls, arches and sanctuary without a surviving complete roof.","objectCaption":"Modern photograph of the basilica remains: walls, arches and sanctuary without a surviving complete roof.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"StanTravels · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"StanTravels / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern photograph of the basilica remains: walls, arches and sanctuary without a surviving complete roof. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"StanTravels / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern photograph of the basilica remains: walls, arches and sanctuary without a surviving complete roof. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Basilica_from_the_church_entrance.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Approximate area of Ohrid fortress, not an exact location of medieval palaces or treasury.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.ohrid","name":"Ohrid — fortress hill","latitude":41.115,"longitude":20.791,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":800,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.ohrid","src.sam.komatina","src.sam.petrov"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"sam.ohrid","url":"/en/map/#sam.ohrid"},{"note":"Island in Small Prespa Lake, not the entire historical capital.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.prespa","name":"Prespa — island of Saint Achilles","latitude":40.78333333,"longitude":21.08411111,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":1000,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.prespa","src.sam.komatina"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"sam.prespa","url":"/en/map/#sam.prespa"},{"note":"Approximate area, not the exact position of the barrier.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.kleidion","name":"Kleidion — Klyuch area","latitude":41.36222222222222,"longitude":23.0175,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":5000,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.kleidion","src.sam.ziemann"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"sam.kleidion","url":"/en/map/#sam.kleidion"},{"note":"Pass area associated with the victory of 986.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.trajan-gates","name":"Gates of Trajan","latitude":42.35611111,"longitude":23.91833333,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":1500,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.trajan-gates","src.sam.ziemann"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/place/#gate-of-trajan","slug":"sam.trajan-gates","url":"/en/map/#sam.trajan-gates"}],"map":{"light":{"src":"/assets/maps/story-0001eeff917244ee.jpg?v=f20cdda230","w":2048,"h":1673,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[]},"dark":{"src":"/assets/maps/story-0001eeff917244ee-dark.jpg?v=b2a1ea3a04","w":2048,"h":1673,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[]},"places":[{"note":"Approximate area of Ohrid fortress, not an exact location of medieval palaces or treasury.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.ohrid","name":"Ohrid — fortress 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Mountains","kind":"nature","x":74.6,"y":50.536,"viewX":74.6,"viewY":49.402111625}],"crop":{"sx":1,"sy":0.7650926479378362,"x":0,"y":0.12738807603108193},"credit":{"id":"map-relief"}},"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":23.548375,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s2-lake-centres","duration":23.637,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s2-lake-centres.89264a0f.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.petrov"},{"id":"src.sam.komatina"},{"id":"src.sam.media.ohrid"},{"id":"src.sam.media.prespa"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s3-family-stone","number":3,"kind":"artifact","title":"Three crosses and family names","body":"Three crosses mark the stone. Samuil commissioned the short inscription beside them to remember relatives who had died. They were his father Nikola, his mother Ripsimia and his brother David. The inscription dates to 992–993. It was found in the village of German, near Prespa.\n\nWe are looking at an image of the slab printed in 1899. The slab itself is evidence from Samuil’s time.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-480.65e2ed23.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-960.65e2ed23.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-1600.65e2ed23.avif","w":1600},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-2400.65e2ed23.avif","w":2400}],"dominant":"#a7a7a7","h":1316,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-960.65e2ed23.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-960.65e2ed23.webp","id":"asset.sam.inscription-plate","alt":"Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription.","objectCaption":"Family inscription","caption":"","kind":"archive","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SamuilUspenskyBGHistory.png","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-sam-cross-left","x":0.24,"y":0.49,"title":"A cross","body":"One of the three crosses carved into the slab.","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.inscription-plate"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-sam-cross-middle","x":0.55,"y":0.47,"title":"The middle cross","body":"Here is the middle of the three crosses. We do not know whether each cross relates to a particular relative.","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.inscription-plate"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-sam-writing","x":0.78,"y":0.75,"title":"A short inscription","body":"The text commemorates Nikola, Ripsimia and David. This point marks the text area, not an individual name.","sourceIds":["src.sam.komatina","src.sam.pmbz-samuel"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[{"note":"Village near Prespa where the family inscription was found. The marker is approximate, not the exact excavation spot.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.german","name":"German — Agios Germanos","latitude":40.839256,"longitude":21.158974,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":1000,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.german","src.sam.komatina"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"sam.german","url":"/en/map/#sam.german"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":26.810791666666667,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s3-family-stone","duration":26.923,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s3-family-stone.d5e76687.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.komatina"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel"},{"id":"src.sam.naim-exhibition"},{"id":"src.sam.media.inscription-plate"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s4-coin-and-war","number":4,"kind":"artifact","title":"Two emperors on a coin","body":"The gold coin shows Basil II and Constantine VIII. Both are emperors. A cross separates them. This small object comes from the opposing state. It is not a Bulgarian coin of Samuil.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-coin-480.d55e5ff7.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-coin-960.d55e5ff7.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-coin-1600.d55e5ff7.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#d7b775","h":1131,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-coin-960.d55e5ff7.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-coin-960.d55e5ff7.webp","id":"asset.sam.coin","alt":"Both sides of one gold coin, circa 1005–1025. Christ at left; the two emperors with a cross at right.","objectCaption":"Both sides of one gold coin, circa 1005–1025. Christ at left; the two emperors with a cross at right.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 2.5","attribution":"Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.5. Both sides of one gold coin, circa 1005–1025. Christ at left; the two emperors with a cross at right. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.5. Both sides of one gold coin, circa 1005–1025. Christ at left; the two emperors with a cross at right. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Histamenon_of_Basil_II_%26_Constantine_VIII.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-sam-christ","x":0.25,"y":0.51,"title":"The obverse","body":"The image on the left is Christ, not a third emperor.","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.coin"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-sam-basil","x":0.65,"y":0.53,"title":"Basil II","body":"Basil is to the left of the cross. Constantine VIII is on the right. Both hold the imperial title at the same time.","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.coin"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-sam-coin-cross","x":0.76,"y":0.34,"title":"A cross between rulers","body":"The emperors hold a long cross. The photograph shows both sides of one object.","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.coin"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":12.623375,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s4-coin-and-war","duration":12.715,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s4-coin-and-war.7fdd90da.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.media.coin"},{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel"},{"id":"src.sam.stephenson2008"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s7-basil-in-pass","number":5,"kind":"narrative","title":"Basil’s army in the pass","body":"The war brought victories and defeats to both sides. In 986 the Bulgarians defeated Basil’s army at the Gates of Trajan. A mountain pass is a narrow way between heights. Such a place could hinder a large army. Later the Byzantines took fortresses and towns. Samuil attacked too.","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Pass area associated with the victory of 986.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.trajan-gates","name":"Gates of Trajan","latitude":42.35611111,"longitude":23.91833333,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":1500,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.trajan-gates","src.sam.ziemann"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/place/#gate-of-trajan","slug":"sam.trajan-gates","url":"/en/map/#sam.trajan-gates"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":19.008875,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s7-basil-in-pass","duration":19.115,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s7-basil-in-pass.da1f2e12.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.a1-coin","number":6,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: whose coin?","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.sam.story-coin","kind":"single_choice","prompt":"Which two rulers appear together on the coin?","sourceIds":["src.sam.media.coin"],"items":[{"id":"opt-sam-david","label":"Samuil and David","whyWrong":"Their names belong to the family inscription, not this coin."},{"id":"opt-basil-constantine","label":"Basil II and Constantine VIII"},{"id":"opt-sam-basil","label":"Samuil and Basil II","whyWrong":"The second ruler on the coin is Constantine VIII, not Basil's opponent."}],"explanation":"This Byzantine coin depicts the emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII.","correctItemId":"opt-basil-constantine","sources":[{"id":"src.sam.media.coin"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.149625,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.a1-coin","duration":3.243,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/a1-coin.6be7a303.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.media.coin"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s5-kleidion","number":7,"kind":"narrative","title":"Soldiers go around the barrier","body":"In 1014 Samuil blocked the route at Kleidion, near today’s Klyuch village and the Belasitsa mountains. Byzantine commander Nikephoros Xiphias went around the defences. His soldiers attacked the Bulgarians from behind. The Bulgarian army was defeated; the usual date is 29 July.\n\nA later account says Basil ordered captured soldiers to be blinded. We cannot be sure how many suffered or whether everything happened this way. The same later account says his son Gavril Radomir helped Samuil escape.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-belasitsa-480.9934324e.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-belasitsa-960.9934324e.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-belasitsa-1600.9934324e.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#798a86","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-belasitsa-960.9934324e.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-belasitsa-960.9934324e.webp","id":"asset.sam.belasitsa","alt":"Modern landscape of the mountains seen from Kerkini. It does not show the battlefield or the exact flanking route.","objectCaption":"Modern landscape of the mountains seen from Kerkini. It does not show the battlefield or the exact flanking route.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Anton Lefterov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Anton Lefterov / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern landscape of the mountains seen from Kerkini. It does not show the battlefield or the exact flanking route. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Anton Lefterov / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Modern landscape of the mountains seen from Kerkini. It does not show the battlefield or the exact flanking route. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Belasica_mountain_range_from_Lake_Kerkini.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Approximate area, not the exact position of the barrier.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.sam.kleidion","name":"Kleidion — Klyuch area","latitude":41.36222222222222,"longitude":23.0175,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":5000,"sourceIds":["src.sam.coords.kleidion","src.sam.ziemann"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"sam.kleidion","url":"/en/map/#sam.kleidion"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":33.927708333333335,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s5-kleidion","duration":34.048,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s5-kleidion.7abebf02.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.naim-catalogue"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-xiphias"},{"id":"src.sam.lykaki"},{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.stephenson2000"},{"id":"src.sam.stephenson2008"},{"id":"src.sam.skylitzes"},{"id":"src.sam.media.belasitsa"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.a2-timeline","number":8,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: put the events in order","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.sam.story-timeline","kind":"sequence","prompt":"Put the earliest event first.","sourceIds":["src.sam.ziemann","src.sam.komatina"],"items":[{"id":"ev-gates","label":"Gates of Trajan victory"},{"id":"ev-stone","label":"Family inscription"},{"id":"ev-kleidion","label":"Defeat at Kleidion"}],"explanation":"The victory of 986 came before the inscription; the battle of 1014 came after it.","correctOrderIds":["ev-gates","ev-stone","ev-kleidion"],"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.komatina"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":2.7316666666666665,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.a2-timeline","duration":2.859,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/a2-timeline.d6407f8b.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.komatina"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.s6-after-samuil","number":9,"kind":"narrative","title":"Samuil’s successors keep fighting","body":"Samuil died in autumn 1014. The war continued. His son Gavril Radomir ruled next. His cousin Ivan Vladislav then killed him and took the throne.\n\nIvan Vladislav died attacking the town of Dyrrhachion in 1018. Afterwards, many Bulgarian commanders accepted Basil’s rule. The First Bulgarian Tsardom lost its independence. Losing a battle and losing an independent state are different events.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-480.389b093b.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-960.389b093b.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-1600.389b093b.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#605c5a","h":900,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-960.389b093b.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-960.389b093b.webp","id":"asset.sam.bitola","alt":"The Bitola inscription on a slab in two large pieces, in a museum case. Usually associated with Ivan Vladislav.","objectCaption":"The Bitola inscription on a slab in two large pieces, in a museum case. Usually associated with Ivan Vladislav.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Протогер · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Протогер / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. The Bitola inscription on a slab in two large pieces, in a museum case. Usually associated with Ivan Vladislav. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Протогер / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. The Bitola inscription on a slab in two large pieces, in a museum case. Usually associated with Ivan Vladislav. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bitola_Inscription,_Museum_of_Bitola.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-copy-480.160c97f6.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-copy-960.160c97f6.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-copy-1600.160c97f6.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#c4bb92","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-copy-960.160c97f6.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-sam-bitola-copy-960.160c97f6.webp","id":"asset.sam.bitola-copy","alt":"Marble museum copy of the Bitola inscription in Sofia; not the original slab.","objectCaption":"Marble museum copy of the Bitola inscription in Sofia; not the original slab.","caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Bin im Garten · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0","attribution":"Bin im Garten / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Museum copy of the Bitola inscription. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Bin im Garten / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Museum copy of the Bitola inscription. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Historical_Museum_of_Bulgaria_PD_2012_024.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":25.394375,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.s6-after-samuil","duration":25.515,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/s6-after-samuil.468ba918.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.ziemann"},{"id":"src.sam.komatina"},{"id":"src.sam.naim-exhibition"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel"},{"id":"src.sam.media.bitola"},{"id":"src.sam.media.bitola-copy"}]},{"id":"samuil-kleidion-1014.a3-matching","number":10,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: match them","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.sam.story-matching","kind":"matching","prompt":"Match each person with their action in the story.","sourceIds":["src.sam.komatina","src.sam.media.coin","src.sam.pmbz-xiphias"],"items":[{"id":"m-samuil","label":"Samuil","pairedLabel":"Commissions the family inscription"},{"id":"m-basil","label":"Basil II","pairedLabel":"On the coin with Constantine VIII"},{"id":"m-xiphias","label":"Nikephoros Xiphias","pairedLabel":"Goes around Kleidion’s defences"}],"explanation":"The inscription preserves Samuil's family memory. The coin shows two Byzantine emperors. Xiphias is the commander who led the flanking movement.","sources":[{"id":"src.sam.komatina"},{"id":"src.sam.media.coin"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-xiphias"}],"columns":["Person","Role"]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.3005833333333334,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.samuil-kleidion-1014.samuil-kleidion-1014.a3-matching","duration":3.413,"src":"/audio/en/samuil-kleidion-1014/a3-matching.0b1aa3fc.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.sam.komatina"},{"id":"src.sam.media.coin"},{"id":"src.sam.pmbz-xiphias"}]}],"minutes":4,"sources":[{"year":2023,"url":"https://doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0584-9888/2023/0584-98882302789K.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Predrag Komatina","id":"src.sam.komatina","title":"The Diocesan Structure of the Archbishopric of Ohrid in the Charters of Basil II: Historical Development until the Early 11th Century","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta","volume":"60","issue":"2","pages":"789–821","doi":"10.2298/ZRVI2360789K","supports":{"en":"Page 804 and note 108: Samuil commissions the inscription in 992–993 for Nikola, Ripsimia and David; German is near Prespa. Moving the centre to Ohrid after that date is a reconstruction. Pages 789–790: after conquest, Basil issues a charter in 1019 regulating the church centred on Ohrid. Church life continues after the loss of state independence."},"authors":["Predrag Komatina"],"accessed":"2026-11-03","isPdf":true},{"year":2020,"url":"https://www.scielo.cl/pdf/byzantion/n39/0718-8471-byzantion-39-00229.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Marilia Lykaki","id":"src.sam.lykaki","title":"The Byzantine masculinity at war: An approach on the manliness of the army in the Middle Byzantine Era","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Byzantion Nea Hellás","issue":"39","pages":"229–253","supports":{"en":"Defenders resisted until Xiphias attacked from behind; Samuil escaped with his son; distinguishes medieval author’s portrayal from a modern account."},"authors":["Marilia Lykaki"],"accessed":"2026-11-03","isPdf":true},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BasilII.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Unknown medieval artist","id":"src.sam.media.basil-portrait","title":"File:BasilII.jpg","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Miniature from the Psalter of Basil II, eleventh century, Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr.Z.17, fol.3r. An image of authority, not a depiction of Kleidion."},"authors":["Unknown medieval artist"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Belasica_mountain_range_from_Lake_Kerkini.JPG","institutionOrAuthor":"Anton Lefterov","id":"src.sam.media.belasitsa","title":"File:View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini.JPG","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Modern landscape of the mountains seen from Kerkini. It does not show the battlefield or the exact flanking route."},"authors":["Anton Lefterov"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bitola_Inscription,_Museum_of_Bitola.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Протогер","id":"src.sam.media.bitola","title":"File:Bitola Inscription, Museum of Bitola.jpg","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"The Bitola slab with a Cyrillic inscription in two large pieces, in a museum case. Usually associated with Ivan Vladislav; the photograph does not establish scholarly dating or reading."},"authors":["Протогер"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Historical_Museum_of_Bulgaria_PD_2012_024.JPG","institutionOrAuthor":"Bin im Garten","id":"src.sam.media.bitola-copy","title":"File:National Historical Museum of Bulgaria PD 2012 024.JPG","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Museum copy of the Bitola inscription in Sofia, not the original slab."},"authors":["Bin im Garten"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Histamenon_of_Basil_II_%26_Constantine_VIII.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com","id":"src.sam.media.coin","title":"File:Histamenon of Basil II & Constantine VIII.jpg","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Both sides of one gold coin, circa1005–1025. Christ at left; the two emperors with a cross at right."},"authors":["Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SamuilUspenskyBGHistory.png","institutionOrAuthor":"Fyodor Uspensky","id":"src.sam.media.inscription-plate","title":"File:SamuilUspenskyBGHistory.png","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription."},"authors":["Fyodor Uspensky"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samuil%27s_Fortress_in_Ohrid_(%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%80%D1%92%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D1%83_%D0%9E%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D1%83).jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Petar Milošević","id":"src.sam.media.ohrid","title":"File:Samuil's Fortress in Ohrid (Самуилова тврђава у Охриду).jpg","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Modern evening view of the fortifications, with lighting and a modern flag. It does not reconstruct their appearance under Samuil."},"authors":["Petar Milošević"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Basilica_from_the_church_entrance.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"StanTravels","id":"src.sam.media.prespa","title":"File:View of Basilica from the church entrance.jpg","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected","supports":{"en":"Modern photograph of the basilica remains: walls, arches and sanctuary without a surviving complete roof."},"authors":["StanTravels"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":2014,"url":"https://naim.bg/bg/content/news/600/857/501/","institutionOrAuthor":"National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences","id":"src.sam.naim-catalogue","title":"Излезе от печат каталогът към изложбата „Цар Самуил († 1014) в битка за България“","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"NAIM-BAS, news, 29 October","supports":{"en":"29 July 1014 battle;6 October 1014 death; royal dates 997–1014; German inscription and COPY of Bitola inscription. Commemorative pathos not adopted; medical cause not accepted as established."},"authors":["National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences"],"accessed":"2026-11-03","fieldLanguages":{"title":"bg"}},{"year":2014,"url":"https://naim.bg/en/content/news/600/857/494/","institutionOrAuthor":"National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences","id":"src.sam.naim-exhibition","title":"The official opening of the exhibition “Tsar Samuel († 1014) in a battle for Bulgaria” is coming up","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"NAIM-BAS, news,7 October","supports":{"en":"German inscription commissioned in memory of parents and brother; exhibition included a copy of Ivan Vladislav’s Bitola inscription; BasilII gold coins as contemporary artifacts."},"authors":["National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":2024,"url":"https://www.obscuredbalkans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/OB2024VP-119-137.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Victor Petrov [Виктор Петров]","id":"src.sam.petrov","title":"Последните държавни средища на ранносредновековна България (края на X – началото на XI в.)","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"The Obscured Balkans Journal","volume":"1","pages":"119–137","doi":"10.62761/OB2024.VP","supports":{"en":"Pages 122–124: Ohrid’s palaces and treasury, and the residence at Prespa. Page 126: the mobile court and changing residences are Victor Petrov’s explanatory model. He proposes a dual system with Prespa leading under Samuil; Komatina reconstructs a move to Ohrid after 992–993. No single date is established. This model is not the sole explanation for prolonged resistance."},"authors":["Victor Petrov [Виктор Петров]"],"accessed":"2026-11-03","isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg"}},{"year":null,"url":"https://xmlpublic.bbaw.de/legacy/apps/pmbz/scripts/browse.xql?target=PMBZ29137","institutionOrAuthor":"Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften","id":"src.sam.pmbz-samuel","title":"Samuel (#26983)","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit, Zweite Abteilung (867–1025), online database","supports":{"en":"T: the royal title dates to around 998–1014, separately from earlier military command. V: Byzantine civil wars helped resistance, including in 987–989. The family inscription bears the calendar year 6501, covering parts of 992 and 993. V gives 20 June 1014 for Kleidion; the Xiphias entry gives 29 June. We follow 29 July from Ziemann and NAIM. The reason for the discrepancy has not been established here. The usual death date is 6 October 1014; note 19 also records 24 October elsewhere in Skylitzes. The link with seeing the captives is a narrative, not a medical diagnosis."},"authors":["Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":null,"url":"https://xmlpublic.bbaw.de/legacy/apps/pmbz/scripts/browse.xql?position=16738","institutionOrAuthor":"Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften","id":"src.sam.pmbz-xiphias","title":"Nikephoros (#25661), Xiphias","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit, Zweite Abteilung (867–1025), online database","supports":{"en":"V: Nikephoros Xiphias leads the flanking movement and attacks the defenders from behind. The online entry gives 29 June 1014; Samuel’s entry gives 20 June. We follow 29 July from Ziemann, p.43, and NAIM. The reason for the discrepancy has not been established here."},"authors":["Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":1973,"url":"","institutionOrAuthor":"John Skylitzes; Ioannes Thurn (editor)","id":"src.sam.skylitzes","title":"Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae. Berlin: De Gruyter","volume":"5","pages":"348–349 (Kleidion); 353,358–359 (Ohrid)","supports":{"en":"Primary narrative behind barrier, flank, escape, blinding account and death; it is late-eleventh-century testimony, not eyewitness evidence. Do not cite this entry as an independently read confirmation."},"authors":["John Skylitzes; Ioannes Thurn (editor)"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":2000,"url":"https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/byzantine-and-modern-greek-studies/article/abs/legend-of-basil-the-bulgarslayer/C21D57BE9E97402DEF4ED0C0671AB8F1","institutionOrAuthor":"Paul Stephenson","id":"src.sam.stephenson2000","title":"The legend of Basil the Bulgar-slayer","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies","volume":"24","issue":"1","pages":"102–132","doi":"10.1179/byz.2000.24.1.102","supports":{"en":"The abstract and notes are accessible, not the full article. Note 54 records scholarly scepticism and about 14,000 captured men in Kekaumenos. Stephenson sees approximate corroboration of the number. This does not establish an exact count of blinded men or every detail in Skylitzes."},"authors":["Paul Stephenson"],"accessed":"2026-11-03"},{"year":2008,"url":"https://helios.eie.gr/helios/bitstream/10442/16329/2/%CE%9207.018.0.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Paul Stephenson","id":"src.sam.stephenson2008","title":"Basil II Boulgaroktonos: the origins of a legend","accessedOn":"2026-11-03","container":"Βυζάντιο και Βούλγαροι (1018–1185). Διεθνή Συμπόσια 18. 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Detailed accounts are missing for subsequent years; a continuous sequence of personally led campaigns is not treated as established."},"authors":["Daniel Ziemann; Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung"],"accessed":"2026-11-03","isPdf":true}],"credits":[{"id":"asset.sam.inscription-plate-cutout","src":"/media/asset-sam-inscription-plate-cutout-960.d0246713.webp","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription.","w":2400,"h":1316,"caption":"","credit":"Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Fyodor Uspensky / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. 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