Basil II
The Bulgar Slayer who expanded the Byzantine Empire to its greatest extent in four centuries.
Basil II Porphyrogenitus, known as the Bulgar Slayer, was the senior Byzantine emperor from 976 until his death in 1025, a reign of 49 years and 11 months that stands as the longest of any Roman emperor. Born in 958, he was a "born into the purple" prince, the eldest son of Emperor Romanos II and his second wife Theophano. He and his younger brother Constantine were crowned co-emperors in 960 and 962 or 963, respectively, but were too young to rule when their father died unexpectedly in March 963, possibly poisoned. Power initially fell to the eunuch official Joseph Bringas, but the general Nikephoros Phokas, fresh from conquering Crete and raiding Syria, was proclaimed emperor by his troops and marched on Constantinople. With popular support, Phokas deposed Bringas and was crowned emperor in August 963, later marrying Theophano. After Phokas was murdered in 969, another general, John Tzimiskes, ruled until 976, when Basil finally became senior emperor. However, his influential great-uncle, the eunuch Basil Lekapenos, remained the de facto ruler until 985. The early years of Basil’s reign were consumed by civil wars against the Anatolian generals Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phokas, ending only after Phokas’ death and Skleros’ submission in 989. Thereafter, Basil stabilized and expanded the eastern frontier, completely subjugated the First Bulgarian Empire after a long struggle, campaigned against the Fatimid Caliphate and the Khazar Khaganate, and led successful campaigns against the Kingdom of Georgia. Despite constant warfare, he proved a capable administrator, curbing the power of great land-owning families, filling the treasury, and leaving the empire at its greatest territorial extent in four centuries. He also arranged the marriage of his sister Anna to Vladimir I of Kiev in exchange for military support, which led to the Christianization of the Kievan Rus’. The historian Michael Psellos described Basil as stocky and shorter than average, with light-blue eyes, arched eyebrows, and a habit of rolling his side whiskers when angry. He was ascetic, scorned courtly pomp, and despised literary culture, but left a well-stocked treasury upon his death.
- born
- 958
- died
- 15 December 1025
- field
- Emperor, military commander
- nationality
- Byzantine (Roman)
- known_for
- Longest reign of any Roman emperor; subjugation of the First Bulgarian Empire; Christianization of the Kievan Rus' through the marriage of his sister Anna to Vladimir I
Lore & Background
Basil II was born in 958, a porphyrogennetos, the eldest son of Romanos II and his Laconian Greek second wife Theophano. He and his brother Constantine VIII were crowned before their father died in 963, but they were too young to rule. The throne went to Nikephoros Phokas (r. 963–969) and John Tzimiskes (r. 969–976) before Basil became senior emperor, though his influential great-uncle Basil Lekapenos remained de facto ruler until 985. The early years of Basil's reign were dominated by civil wars against generals Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phokas, ending after Phokas' death and Skleros' submission in 989. Basil then oversaw the stabilization and expansion of the eastern frontier and the complete subjugation of the First Bulgarian Empire. He led a campaign against the Fatimid Caliphate ending in a truce in 1000, a campaign against the Khazar Khaganate gaining part of Crimea, and successful campaigns against the Kingdom of Georgia. He reduced the power of great land-owning families, filled the treasury, and left the Empire at its greatest territorial extent in four centuries. One of his most important decisions was to offer the hand of his sister Anna Porphyrogenita to Vladimir I of Kiev in exchange for military support, forming the Varangian Guard. The marriage of Anna and Vladimir led to the Christianization of the Kievan Rus' and the incorporation of later successor states within Byzantine cultural and religious tradition.
Reader's Guide
Basil II is described by Michael Psellos as a stocky man of shorter-than-average stature, impressive on horseback, with light-blue eyes, strongly arched eyebrows, luxuriant side whiskers, and in later life a scant beard. He was not an articulate speaker, had a loud laugh, ascetic tastes, and cared little for pomp, typically wearing a somber dark-purple robe. He was a capable administrator who left a well-stocked treasury. He supposedly despised literary culture and affected scorn for the learned classes.
Did You Know?
- Basil II was given the epithet 'the Bulgar Slayer'.
- His reign of 49 years and 11 months was the longest of any Roman emperor.
- He formed the Varangian Guard through an alliance with Vladimir I of Kiev.
- The marriage of his sister Anna to Vladimir I led to the Christianization of the Kievan Rus'.
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