History of BulgariaHistory of Bulgaria
Not a portrait: Samuel’s inscription, 992–993. Erected in memory of his parents and brother.
Not a portrait

First Bulgarian Tsardom · Tsar

Samuil

997–1014

Long resisted Byzantium; his army was defeated at Kleidion in 1014.

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Samuil was a Bulgarian commander and tsar in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. After Byzantium captured Preslav in 971, resistance continued in the southwest. Samuil and his brothers took part, with Ohrid and Prespa serving as important royal centres. His reign as tsar is usually dated from around 997–998. An inscription he commissioned in 992–993 commemorates his father Nikola, mother Ripsimia and brother David. His army lost at Kleidion in 1014. The account of blinded prisoners remains disputed in scale and reliability. Samuil died that autumn; the state lost its independence only in 1018.

Sources · 36

Open · Samuil

Achievements

  • Led resistance against Byzantium.
  • Commissioned the family inscription of 992–993.
  • Fortified the route at Kleidion in 1014.

In our stories

Sources

  1. Ian S. R. Mladjov Bulgaria (Bălgarija): kings and emperors of the Bulgarians; princes of Bulgaria and kings of the Bulgarians Ian Mladjov’s Resources, Chronologies. Author’s working chronology, updated March 2024, 6 pp. · 2024
  2. Tourist Board of Baška The Church of St. Lucy Visit Baška — Sights
  3. Tourist Board of Baška The Baška Tablet PDF Baška visitor catalogue · 2019
All sources (37)
  1. Charles University, Faculty of Humanities, Medieval Languages and Literatures project Church Slavonic Medieval languages and literatures
  2. Dimo Cheshmedzhiev; Regional Historical Museum Burgas The Slavonic alphabets – between Bulgaria and Byzantium Regional Historical Museum Burgas
  3. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Ohrid: geographical records Wikidata
  4. Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža Bašćanska ploča Hrvatska enciklopedija, mrežno izdanje
  5. Иван Дуйчев, съставител и преводач XXV. Надпис на цар Самуила от 993 година Из старата българска книжнина. Книжовни и исторически паметници от Първото българско царство. София: Хемус, второ поправено и допълнено издание · 1943 · I · 141, 232–233
  6. Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti Bašćanska ploča Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
  7. Institute for Bulgarian Language, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Bulgarian alphabets Institute for Bulgarian Language website
  8. Десислава Найденова Глаголически следи в България / Traces of Glagolitic Script in Bulgaria Кирило-Методиевски места на паметта в българската култура. София: КМНЦ–БАН · 2023 · 237–260 (CEEOL); 245–268 (author CV); unresolved
  9. Казимир Попконстантинов; Лиляна Грашева, гл. ред. Самуилов надпис Кирило-методиевска енциклопедия. София: АИ Марин Дринов · 2003 · III · 529–531
  10. Evelyn Reuter From Folk Religion to Church Politics: Naum’s Significance in Macedonia PDF ИСТОРИЈА / Journal of HISTORY · 2020 · 107–126
  11. Татяна Славова Глаголическата традиция и преславската книжнина PDF Palaeobulgarica / Старобългаристика · 1999 · 23 · 35–46
  12. Codex Suprasliensis Project; scholarly digital edition team About the Codex Suprasliensis Codex Suprasliensis digital edition
  13. National and University Library Ljubljana; National Library of Poland; National Library of Russia Codex Suprasliensis – Mineia četia, Mart: Memory of the World nomination PDF UNESCO Memory of the World
  14. John Paul II Slavorum Apostoli The Holy See; encyclical, 2 June · 1985
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. Unknown medieval artist File:BasilII.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  19. 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
  20. 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
  21. Petar Milošević File:Samuil's Fortress in Ohrid (Самуилова тврђава у Охриду).jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  22. StanTravels File:View of Basilica from the church entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  23. 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
  24. Fyodor Uspensky File:SamuilUspenskyBGHistory.png Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  25. Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com File:Histamenon of Basil II & Constantine VIII.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. Paul Stephenson The legend of Basil the Bulgar-slayer Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies · 2000 · 24 · 102–132
  30. 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)
  31. Anton Lefterov File:View of Belasica mountain range from Lake Kerkini.JPG Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  32. Протогер File:Bitola Inscription, Museum of Bitola.jpg Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  33. Bin im Garten File:National Historical Museum of Bulgaria PD 2012 024.JPG Wikimedia Commons; imageinfo API metadata and image inspected
  34. Albena Milanova; Bulgarian National Television Who Was Tsar Samuil? The Bulgarian Ruler Whose Reign Ended in Tragedy БНТ, interview with a scholar from the Ivan Duychev Centre · 2026

Images

Not a portrait

Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Not a portrait: Samuel’s inscription, 992–993. Erected in memory of his parents and brother.

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Fyodor Uspensky, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Historic photograph published in 1899; the inscription is at the lower right. Some passages are damaged. Processed image.