Manuscript miniature

Basil II

c. 958–1025

Where you meet Basil II

Cut-out detail; background removed. Historical printed reproduction of the German slab with three crosses and a short inscription. — Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Its capital was Constantinople. Its emperor was Basil II.

Scene 1 · Samuil

The gold coin shows Basil II and Constantine VIII.

Scene 4 · Samuil

In 986 the Bulgarians defeated Basil’s army at the Gates of Trajan.

Scene 5 · Samuil

A later account says Basil ordered captured soldiers to be blinded.

Scene 7 · Samuil

People nearby

Contemporary portrait, 802–803 · Dumbarton Oaks · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Nikephoros I
Depiction on a coin · Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Constantine IV
Mosaic · Unknown Byzantine mosaicist; Marvelfannumber1 (crop) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Justinian II
Depiction on a coin · Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Constans II
Depiction on a coin · International Numismatic Club · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Staurakios
Not a portrait · Apostoloff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Rastislav

First Tsardom

Samuil

Sources

Daniel Ziemann; Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung Das Erste bulgarische Reich. Eine frühmittelalterliche Großmacht zwischen Byzanz und dem Abendland PDF Online-Handbuch zur Geschichte Südosteuropas, Band 1: Herrschaft und Politik in Südosteuropa bis 1800 · 2016 · 1–44
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com File:Histamenon of Basil II & Constantine VIII.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften Samuel (#26983) Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit, Zweite Abteilung (867–1025), online database

All sources (19)

Paul Stephenson Basil II Boulgaroktonos: the origins of a legend PDF Βυζάντιο και Βούλγαροι (1018–1185). Διεθνή Συμπόσια 18. Athens: National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute for Byzantine Research · 2008 · 39–49
John Skylitzes; Ioannes Thurn (editor) Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae. Berlin: De Gruyter · 1973 · 5 · 348–349 (Kleidion); 353,358–359 (Ohrid)
Predrag Komatina The Diocesan Structure of the Archbishopric of Ohrid in the Charters of Basil II: Historical Development until the Early 11th Century PDF Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta · 2023 · 60 · 789–821
National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Излезе от печат каталогът към изложбата „Цар Самуил († 1014) в битка за България“ NAIM-BAS, news, 29 October · 2014
Unknown medieval artist File:BasilII.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Beate Zielke; Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften Nikephoros (#25661), Xiphias Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit, Zweite Abteilung (867–1025), online database
Marilia Lykaki The Byzantine masculinity at war: An approach on the manliness of the army in the Middle Byzantine Era PDF Byzantion Nea Hellás · 2020 · 229–253
Paul Stephenson The legend of Basil the Bulgar-slayer Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies · 2000 · 24 · 102–132
Anton Lefterov File:View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini.JPG Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences The official opening of the exhibition “Tsar Samuel († 1014) in a battle for Bulgaria” is coming up NAIM-BAS, news,7 October · 2014
Протогер File:Bitola Inscription, Museum of Bitola.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
Bin im Garten File:National Historical Museum of Bulgaria PD 2012 024.JPG Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
Victor Petrov [Виктор Петров] Последните държавни средища на ранносредновековна България (края на X – началото на XI в.) PDF The Obscured Balkans Journal · 2024 · 1 · 119–137
Petar Milošević File:Samuil's Fortress in Ohrid (Самуилова тврђава у Охриду).jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
StanTravels File:View of Basilica from the church entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
Encyclopaedia Britannica Basil II Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition · 1911

Images

Manuscript miniature

Unknown Byzantine illuminator · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Manuscript miniature · 11th century · detail

Open source

Full attribution

Unknown Byzantine illuminator / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. Manuscript miniature · 11th century · detail

Where you meet Basil II

All stories

Samuil: holding out for almost forty years

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