The Byzantine position in southern Italy was strengthened with the help of the Lombard duchy of Benevento, and the campaigns of Nicephorus Phocas the Elder did much to consolidate this. Basil II, byname Basil Bulgaroctonus (Greek: Basil, Slayer of the Bulgars), (born 957/958—died Dec. 15, 1025), Byzantine emperor (976–1025), who extended imperial rule in the Balkans (notably Bulgaria), Mesopotamia, Georgia, and Armenia and increased his domestic authority by attacking the powerful landed interests of the military aristocracy and of the church. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. Ancient History Encyclopedia. 1,100 years. After a prolonged struggle both were defeated by 989, though only with the help of Russians under Vladimir of Kiev, who was rewarded with the hand of Basil II’s sister Anna on condition that the Kievan state adopted Christianity. The once-great empire’s fortunes would wain, with none more tangible and symbolic an indicator than the ever-dwindling gold content of Byzantine coins. and Theophano, great-great-grandson of Basil I., was born about 958 and crowned on the 22nd of April 960. Basil II (or basil Phorphyrogenitus or basil the Younger reigned from 976 to 1025. Nicholas II was the last tsar of Russia under Romanov rule. Books How Byzantine Art and Architecture Captivated the Known World 2. the egyptians were very smart. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Basil_II/. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. What title did Ivan III use? so they could lead the others out of camp. Finally, when John died on January 10, 976, Basil II took the throne as senior emperor. An abrupt speaker, he scorned rhetoric yet was capable of wit. Basil II, byname Basil Bulgaroctonus (Greek: Basil, Slayer of the Bulgars), (born 957/958—died Dec. 15, 1025), Byzantine emperor (976–1025), who extended imperial rule in the Balkans (notably Bulgaria), Mesopotamia, Georgia, and Armenia and increased his domestic authority by attacking the powerful landed interests of the military aristocracy and of the church. Basil Rathbone … (c. 958-1025), known as Bilgaroktonos (slayer of Bulgarians), Roman emperor in the East, son of Romanus II. The surviving source materials mean that we know more about Byzantine contacts with Germany than with any other western power during Basil's reign. What are the 8 Achievements of Basil II? Before these plans could come to fruition, though, Basil died on the 13th or 15th of December 1025 CE. When did Basil II die? The general John Tzimiskes then made himself emperor and banished Theophano to a monastery in the same year. From 986 until 1014 there was warfare between Byzantium and Bulgaria, interrupted from time to time by Basil II’s intermittent expeditions to settle crises on the eastern front. Basil II reigned for a long time, from 976 to 1025. Basil proved more generous with his new subjects than their army. https://www.ancient.eu/Basil_II/. After their father's death (963) he and his younger brother Constantine were how did they do this if they didn't go to school?? The by-product of this policy was the imperial protection of the small farmers, some of whom owed military service to the crown and paid taxes to the central exchequer. Basil the eunuch was exiled in 985 CE. Byzantine Empire or the East Roman Empire from Constantine the Great... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. His final resting place carried the following inscription: From the day that the King of Heaven called upon me to become the Emperor, the great overlord of the world, no one saw my spear lie idle. Why did Basil II only blind only one eye on the 100th POW? Ivan III was the first Muscovite ruler to use the titles of tsar and "Ruler of all Rus'." In the early morning hours of July 17, 1918, Czar Nicholas II—the last monarch of the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for 304 years—was reportedly executed Almost immediately John's close ally and relative Bardas Skleros rebelled against Basil. On the other hand, Basil II was biologically related to Constantine VIII, … blinded one of their eyes. Everyone was fleeing, and some people did get bombed, lots of boats were sunk.” Larry had a wife, Nancy, and one-year-old child Penelope, not portrayed in the series. Basil’s main focus, though, was the west and revenge on the Bulgars. The Varangian Guard: Berserkers of the Byzantine Empire 3. Basil could withstand the reduction in a wider military force because of his elite troops loaned to him by allied states and, rather cleverly, he used the new tax revenue to pay a new army more loyal to his own interests. He showed no obvious interest in learning, but he did apparently commission works of religious art, and he had churches and monasteries rebuilt or completed in Boeotia and in Athens, though this may be accounted for by conventional piety. He seems never to have married or had children. I also create an icon artefact of Basil II to lead my army icons. Born 957. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Toward the end of his reign he intervened in Armenia, annexing Vaspurkan and part of Iberia. Page 19 of 50 - About 500 essays. A bachelor, Basil left the throne to his younger brother, Constantine VIII, during whose reign (1025-1028) began the rapid erosion of the strength Basil had built up. The emperor should have been buried in a splendid sarcophagus waiting for him alongside his predecessors in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, but Basil preferred a more simple tomb in a smaller church outside the city. I often wondered why Basil did'nt do more to bring about a stronger succession. He maintained the Byzantine position in Syria against aggression stirred up by the Fāṭimid dynasty in Egypt and on occasion made forced marches from Constantinople across Asia Minor to relieve Antioch. 1. Certain Russian soldiers remained in Basil II’s service, forming the famous imperial Varangian guard. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As was relatively common for a young aristocrat’s education at the time, Basil was also sent to Athens and Constantinople. The Byzantine territories stretched all the way to Mesopotamia. The long reign of the Byzantine emperor Basil II (976-1025) has been considered a "golden age", in which his greatest achievement was the annexation of Bulgaria after a long and bloody war. Basil’s immediate problem on gaining the throne was to quash a rebellion led by the aristocrat Bardas Skleros, a general who was keen to continue in the privileged position he had enjoyed under previous emperors. Paul Stephenson reveals that the legend of the "Bulgar-slayer" was actually created long after his death. The 11th-century historian Psellus wrote of his dynasty as “more blessed by God than any other family known to me, though rooted in murder and bloodshed.” But Macedonian historians were understandably biased in favour of the existing … After their father’s death in 963, the government was effectively undertaken by the senior military emperors, first by Nicephorus II Phocas, their stepfather, and then by John I Tzimisces. Basil II blinded them and sent them back to Tsar Samuel, who was struck senseless and died two days later (on 6 October 1014). Basil II ruled with his brother Konstantin VIII (who practically did not interfere in the affairs of the state administration). Veteran Fought In World War II, Korea And Vietnam Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley, who served in three wars, has died at the age of 92. Justinian I was succeeded by Justin II The romance between Prince Philip of Greece and Princess Elizabeth sprang out of a summer encounter on the tennis courts in Devon in 1939 He was known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian,. Basil II died on 1025-12-15. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 09 Nov 2017. The process towards the decline and fall of the Roman Empire was gradual. Basil II. He received a thorough education at Nicomedia in Bithynia, northwest Asia Minor, possibly under the tutorship of the famed rhetorician from Antioch, Libanius (d. c. 393 CE) who was, curiously enough, a staunch defender of paganism. Basil II enlisted Venetian help in protecting the Dalmatian coast and Adriatic waters from Bulgarian aggression. Cartwright, M. (2017, November 09). Bardas Phokas even declared himself emperor in 987 CE. Quickly, however, tensions began to flare up within the royal court itself as the purple-born emperor attempted to reign fully out of the influence of the established court eunuchs. Basil II (Greek: Βασίλειος Β΄, Basileios II; 958 – December 15, 1025) was a Byzantine Emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from January 10, 976 to December 15, 1025. Basil II. His approach to warfare is here described by the historian J. J. Norwich: Success for Basil depended on faultless organisation. Basil was the son of Emperor Romanos II and Empress Theophano, whose maternal family was of Laconian Greek origin from the Peloponnesian region of Laconia, possibly from the city of Sparta. With Basil having no children, the title of emperor resorted back to his brother Constantine, who ruled as Constantine VIII from 1025 to 1028 CE, and his daughters Zoe and Theodora. The long reign of the Byzantine emperor Basil II (976-1025) has been considered a "golden age", in which his greatest achievement was the annexation of Bulgaria after a long and bloody war. There seemed to be a lack of the razzmatazz that one would expect from an emperor - no lavish parties, fine robes or flashy rings; even when he did wear the purple robes of his office, they were of a duller shade than they might have been. anon45790 September 20, 2009 . Basil the Great, was the son of a Christian of good birth and his wife, Macrina (Acta SS., January, II), both of whom suffered for the faith during the persecution of Maximinus Galerius (305-314), spending several years of hardship in the wild mountains of Pontus. I bought this book thinking it might be a history of Basil II's reign. Basil II. However, before he could venture into this conquest, Basil II fell ill and died. Byzantine Empire, 1025 CE by Necropotame (CC BY-SA) Basil II (aka Basilius II) was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 976 to 1025 CE. Byzantine emperor and conqueror. Basil II (Greek: Βασίλειος Β΄, Basileios II; 958 – 15 December 1025) was a Byzantine Emperor from theMacedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.He was known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his supposed ancestor, Basil I the Macedonian. Indeed the biological father of Leo VI the Wise (Basil IIs great-grandfather) was possibly not Basil I, but Michael III. Basil II then had to foil another coup, this time involving his disloyal and corrupt chamberlain, which attempted to make Bardas Phokas, an aristocratic clan leader, emperor. Unfortunately, Basil’s successors would squander their inheritance within a generation or two. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. With all of his conquests, in Greece, the Balkans, Syria, Mesopotamia, Italy, and Bulgaria, he doubled the size of the Byzantine Empire. He planned to fight the Arabs again and recapture Sicily, which would help him expand the Byzantine rule to the whole of Italy. Basil, born in 958 CE, was the son of Emperor Romanos II of the Macedonian Dynasty, and when his father died, Basil, aged just five, and his younger brother Constantine jointly inherited the throne. The emperor was now ready to concentrate all his efforts on ruling alone and magnificently, not even marriage or family were allowed to distract him. Alexander and Basil II probably weren't biologically related -- Alexander was a genuine son of Basil I, but Basil II's great grandfather, Leo the Wise, was probably a biological son of Michael III. The emperor was relentless, and after years of campaigns in both summer and winter, he won back Greece for Byzantium (997 CE), and then Pliska (1000 CE), Skopje (1004 CE) and Dyracchion (c. 1005 CE), amongst many other cities. But my love of this icon does not secure my victory. This encouraged two rebellions, those of Bardas… If the marriage between Otto III and Zoe was scheduled for 1002, that would have been 23 years before Basil II (988-1025) did die age 67, and 26 years before Constantine XVIII (960-1028) did die age 68. Basil sought to further consolidate his rule by reducing the ever-increasing power of the landed aristocracy and monasteries. Updates? Currently, it rests in the Mummies Gallery in the Egyptian section of the Penn Museum. Basil II's immediate successor was his younger brother Constantine (Constantine VIII), who had lived his entire life in the shadow of the brilliant military Emperors Nikephoros II Phokas, John I Tzimiskes, and, naturally, his older brother Basil. The Basilisk is a giant serpent, also known as the King of Serpents. (c.958-1025), known as Bulgaroktonos (slayer of Bulgarians), Roman emperor in the East, son of Romanus II. A natural question is why Basil II blinded the soldiers and didn't just make them slaves or even recruit them into Imperial service. Basil II then turned westward. By aggression and by diplomacy he secured land from Georgia and from Armenia, with the promise of more to come on the death of the Armenian ruler. However, its main purpose was to explain when and how Basil received the sobriquet of "Bulgar-Slayer", and how that legend about Basil has been used. What was the state of the Byzantine Empire at the time of Basil II's death? Everywhere the might of Roman arms was respected and feared. BASIL II. I stayed alert throughout my life and protected the children of the New Rome, valiantly campaigning both in the West and at the outposts of the East…O, man, seeing now my tomb here, reward me for my campaigns with your prayers. Italy, too, was reorganised, and a campaign was prepared to once more face the Arabs, this time in their last stronghold in the West, Sicily. Basil II (976–1025 as recorded on the Bible Timeline with World History) was the son of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos II and his wife, Theophano. The Tsardom of Russia was preceded by the Grand Principality of Moscow, and was succeeded by the Russian Empire .The first tsar of Russia was Ivan IV (commonly known in English as Ivan the Terrible, from the Russian Ivan Grozny ), the last Grand Prince of Moscow, and the … Basil, fortunately, could call on the help of Vladimir I of Kiev (r. 980-1015 CE), whose force of 6,000 Vikings bolstered his naval force and assured that the emperor restored order by 989 CE. Basil the Great, was the son of a Christian of good birth and his wife, Macrina (Acta SS., January, II), both of whom suffered for the faith during the persecution of Maximinus Galerius (305-314), spending several years of hardship in the wild mountains of Pontus. At least on paper, Basil shared the role with his sibling Cecil, but it was very much Basil who ruled in practice. The Empress Theophano, wife of Romanos, acted as their regent and married the general Nikephoros Phokas, who became Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas. He planned an expedition to reconquer Sicily and expand Byzantine authority in Italy; but before he could undertake this campaign, Basil suddenly took ill and died on Dec. 15, 1025. Paul Stephenson reveals that the legend of the "Bulgar-slayer" was actually created long after his death. Emeritus Professor of History, Royal Holloway College, University of London. St. anon56537 December 15, 2009 . The army must act as a single, perfectly coordinated body. Basil I, called the Macedonian (Greek: Βασίλειος ὁ Μακεδών, Basíleios ō Makedṓn; 811 – August 29, 886), was a Byzantine Emperor who reigned from 867 to 886. These qualities, along with his dour nature, abruptness, and quick temper, combined with a complete lack of trust in anyone, unsurprisingly, did not foster much love and admiration from his subjects. The adoption of Christianity and its promotion by St Vladimir, as he would become, was a momentous action of long-lasting consequence for the Russian peoples. Well-known for his appetite, he became a close ally of Matthias and later relocated to Redwall Abbey.. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. There were other matters to attend to besides Samuel the Bulgar. Basil was certainly a pious man and was known to carry a statue of the Virgin in battle. Basil the Elder, father of St. According to the historical accounts, when Samuel saw the blinded men approaching, he had a stroke or similar ailment and died two days later (6 October 914). Al-Hakim was thirty-six years old at the time of his mysterious disappearance. Basil II did not succeed Justinian I. had a stroke when the Bulgars lost the war. There WAS a lack of the razzmatazz that one would expect from an emperor - no lavish parties, fine robes or flashy rings. Related Content Both in near-contemporary history and in manuscript illustrations, Basil II is pictured as a short, well-proportioned figure, with brilliant light-blue eyes, a round face, and full, bushy whiskers, which he would twirl in his fingers when angry or while giving an audience. Basil then divided the men into groups of 100, blinded 99 men and left … Born on Jan. 22, 1440, in Moscow, Ivan was the oldest son of Basil II. "Basil II." He had almost doubled the empire which now "stretched from Crete to the Crimea, and from the Straits of Messina and the River Danube to the Araxes, Euphrates, and Orontes rivers" (Mango, 80) or, to put it another way, Byzantium was now "a superpower on two continents" (ibid, 176). What happened when World War II started? Cardinal Basil Hume, Archbishop of Westminster since February, 1976, who has died aged 76, was the first Benedictine monk to hold this post since the restoration of … Thus, in spite of his costly wars, Basil left a full treasury, some of it stored in specially constructed underground chambers. Wild Success and Deplorable Failure: Th… (12). I would assume that he would have superior military training, with a father like Basil II. Known mainly for the wars that he led to prote… Last modified November 09, 2017. Both related to emperors, they belonged to powerful landed families and commanded outside support from Georgia and from the Caliph in Baghdad. Death. Basil died on the hunting field. He would die in 578. The Durrells arrived in 1935 and remained in Corfu until 1939, when the outbreak of World War II forced most of the family to … The consequences of the defeat at Trajan’s Gate were the further expansion of Samuel’s kingdom into Byzantine lands and the encouragement of two rebellions back home led by Bardas Skleros and Bardas Phokas (him again) respectively. Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329–379. Basil II died on 1025-12-15. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Basil-II, Loyola University Chicago - Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors - Biography of Basil II. He attempted to establish a Greek pope in Rome and to unite in marriage the German (though by birth half Byzantine) ruler Otto III with Basil II’s favourite niece, Zoe. His father, the late Lieutenant General Floyd L. Parks, then a Captain, was attending the War College at Fort McNair. He succeeded John I Tzimiskes. The Tsar of Russia was the title used by the ruler of the Tsardom of Russia, a state that existed from 1547 to 1721. Both these groups were expanding their landed interests at the expense of the poorer peasantry, either by purchase or conquest. When Tzimiskes died in 976 Basil II ascended to power. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. With a tight hold on Byzantine purse strings and a private army of giant Vikings, Basil got the better of at least two significant usurpers for his throne, reconquered Greece and all of the Balkans, won victories in Syria and doubled the size of the empire. The family of Michael III were Anatolians … Gradually, the Muscovite ruler emerged as a powerful, autocratic ruler, a tsar. He crushed rebellions, subdued the feudal landowners, conquered the enemies of the Empire, notably in the Danubian provinces and the East. Appointed Maurice to Augustus one day before his death. Basil (ca. When battle began, he forbade any soldier to break ranks. His indomitable and forceful personality and his shrewd statesmanship were offset by the inherent weakness of an imperial autocracy that depended so much on the character of the ruler. Ancient History Encyclopedia. In 1014 CE Basil finally won a great and decisive victory against the Bulgars at, appropriately enough, another mountain pass, this time at Kleidion in the Belasica Mountains. His story shares certain themes with that of England's King Alfred and Mali's Sundiata Keita (see … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. When he was only five years old his father died, so first Nikephoros II, and then the usurper John I, took the throne before he finally came to power in 976 AD. The reign of Basil II, widely acknowledged to be one of the outstanding Byzantine emperors, admirably illustrates both the strength and the weakness of the Byzantine system of government. The emperor’s army of 60,000 had already suffered an ignominious episode in their failed siege of the Bulgar capital Serdica (Sofia) but now it was wiped out, the colours lost, and Basil forced to flee back to Constantinople. Basil (II) died 7/4/1849 ae 81 yrs stone photo b Maryland Christening: 31 DEC 1768 Queen Anne Parish, Prince George County, Maryland Son of Basil (I) and Anna SMITH Burgess Basil II purchased lot 15 in Ripley in 1809 HIS and the names of Westfield's first settlers … On the latter’s death (976) the powerful great-uncle of Basil II, the eunuch Basil the chamberlain, took control. (211). Samuel was said to have died of a shock-induced stroke shortly after receiving this ominous sign of Basil’s pitiless wrath. Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, and Basil's brother Gregory of Nyssa are called the Cappadocian Fathers. He dressed plainly and even when wearing the purple chose only a dark hue. 330–January 1, 379), also called Basil the Great, was bishop of Caesarea, a leading churchman in the 4th century. What did Basil II do to the 100th POW in the group? Basil prevailed, despite some initial defeats to Skleros in Asia Minor, and was greatly helped by his namesake chief administrator, the gifted eunuch Basil Lecapenus, the parakoimomenos (emperor’s chamberlain). The son of a resident at St Basil's Homes for the Aged describes the "extremely awful" situation of being told his father was safe and in his room when in reality he was in hospital with days to live. Following his discharge, he turned to acting in 1919, but it wasn't until ten years later that he achieved a breakthrough in Noël Coward 's 'This was a Man' on Broadway. Title to land was rigorously inspected, and vast estates were arbitrarily confiscated. How did Samuil die? We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The young Basil was not a particularly fine physical specimen, although he was skilful at riding a horse. Die Überlieferung der lateinischen Basiliusregel.3 Second, there is the study of the Syriac translation of the Small Asketikon, ... St Peter II of Sebasteia, was a monastic father in his own right He was 75. Both schemes failed, but he was more successful in southern Italy, where order was restored, and at his death preparations were being made for the reconquest of Sicily. The main fields of external conflict were in Syria, Armenia, and Georgia on the eastern front, in the Balkans, and in southern Italy. At his death in 1025, there were no serious external threats on the horizon. He was considered emperor-co-ruler since childhood, but actually gained the throne at the age of 17 or 18 years after the death of John I Tzimiskes (January 976). These Articles are Written by the Publishers of The Amazing Bible Timeline with World History.Quickly See Over 6000 Years of Bible and World History Together. Basil routed the Bulgarian army at the Battle of Kleidion and took 15,000 prisoners. Monasticism, that is individuals devoting themselves to an ascetic... Pilgrimage in the Byzantine Empire involved the Christian faithful... Trade and commerce were essential components of the success and... Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus. I decided to find out the fate of Roman/Byzantine Emperors. Basil died in 1025 AD. It was not a happy marriage, and Theophano conspired to murder her husband in his bed in December 969 CE. 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