Basil II
Basil II[1] (958 – December 15, 1025), was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty from January 10, 976 to December 15, 1025. Under his reign, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest height since Justinian the Great. Under his reign, the First Bulgarian Empire was completely taken by him, a land that would be part of his empire for 150 years. Because of this, the northern part of the Roman Empire touched the Danube river for the first time in several hundred years. He also took land towards the east.
| Basil II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor of the Romans | |||||
 Detailed Portrait of Emperor Basil II | |||||
| Byzantine Emperor | |||||
| 10 January 976 – 15 December 1025 | |||||
| Predecessor | John I Tzimiskes | ||||
| Successor | Constantine VIII | ||||
| Born | c. 958 Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire | ||||
| Died | 15 December 1025 Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Macedonian | ||||
| Father | Romanos II | ||||
| Mother | Theopano | ||||
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity | ||||
Basil II Media
Coronation of Basil as co-emperor, from the Madrid Skylitzes
Coin of Nikephoros II (left) and Basil II (right)
Histamenon of Basil II (left) and Constantine VIII (right)
Clash between the armies of Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phokas at Pankaleia, miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes.
Military campaigns during the Byzantine-Bulgarian War.
The Armenian prince Gregory Taronites is ambushed by the Bulgarians near Thessalonica.
Triumph of Basil II through the Forum of Constantine, from the Madrid Skylitzes
The Pontic steppes, c. 1015. The areas in blue are those possibly still under Khazar control. The positioning of the rump of the Bulgarian state in 1015 is incorrect on this map.
A miniature depicting the defeat of the Georgian king George I ("Georgios of Abasgia") by the Basil II. Madrid Skylitzes, fol. 195v.
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Bibliography
- (primary source) Michael Psellus, Chronographia
- The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 1991
References
Other websites
| Preceded by Romanos II |
Byzantine Emperor 963 |
Succeeded by Nikephoros II |
| Preceded by John I |
Byzantine Emperor 976–1025 |
Succeeded by Constantine VIII |