X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Basil II


Antipope John XVI

Once Otto III had returned to Germany, the faction headed by Crescentius II violently unseated Gregory V and, with the active support of the Eastern Emperor, Basil II, acclaimed John as Pope John XVI (997–998).

Karan, Užice

The church was erected on site of an older temple from 10th century, mentioned in charter edited by Byzantine Emperor Basil II in 1020.

Leo the Deacon

While in Constantinople he wrote a history covering the reigns of Romanus II, Nicepheros II, John Tzimiskes, and the early part of the reign of Basil II.

Michael Bourtzes

Bourtzes re-appears in a prominent role in the civil war between Emperor Basil II (r. 976–1025) and the rebel Bardas Skleros, switching his allegiance from the Byzantine emperor to the rebel and back again.

At the point of Tzimiskes's death, imperial power reverted to the legitimate emperors, the young brothers Basil II and Constantine VIII.

Mufarrij ibn Daghfal ibn al-Jarrah

Emperor Basil II accepted their request, and already a few months later, in autumn 983 the Tayy accompanied the Byzantine doux of Antioch, Bardas Phokas, when he went to relieve Aleppo from an attack by Bakjur, who had rebelled against Sa'd al-Dawla.


1014

July 29Battle of Kleidion: Basil II inflicts not only a decisive defeat on the Bulgarian army, but his subsequent blinding of 15,000 prisoners reportedly causes Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria to die of shock, and earns Basil II the sobriquet 'Boulgaroktonos' (Bulgar-slayer).

Krakra of Pernik

As Basil II's forces headed to seize Sredets, however, in 1004 they came up against Krakra's well-defended fortress of Pernik and the emperor was forced to return to Constantinople after sustaining heavy losses.

Peter Phokas

In 976, Tzimiskes died, and the throne reverted to the legitimate emperors of the Macedonian dynasty, the young brothers Basil II and Constantine VIII, under the tutelage of the parakoimomenos Basil Lekapenos.

Prosopography of the Byzantine World

The work is divided into three periods, 641–867 (Heraclian dynasty to the Amorian dynasty), 867–1025 (Macedonian dynasty up to the death of Basil II) and 1025–1261 (last Macedonians, the Komnenian period, and up to the recovery of Constantinople from the Latin Empire).

Suda

Under the heading "Adam" the author of the lexicon (which a prefatory note states to be "by Suidas") gives a brief chronology of the world, ending with the death of the emperor John I Tzimiskes (975), and the article "Constantinople" mentions his successors Basil II (976–1025) and Constantine VIII (1025–1028).


see also

Bardas Phokas the Younger

At this point Basil II obtained timely aid, in the form of Varangian mercenaries, from his brother-in-law Vladimir, the Russian prince of Kiev, and marched to Abydos.

Bitola inscription

The work on the fortress of Bitola commenced on the twentieth day of October and ended on the ... This Tsar was Bulgarian by birth, grandson of the pious Nikola and Ripsimia, son of Aaron, who was brother of Samuil, Tsar of Bulgaria, the two who routed the Greek army of Emperor Basil II at Stipone where gold was taken ... and in ... this Tsar was defeated by Emperor Basil in 6522 (1014) since the creation of the world in Klyutch and died at the end of the summer.

Gagik II of Armenia

By the death of Hovhannes-Smbat III around 1040, Michael V, one of the successors of Basil II, was the emperor cornering Armenia.