Basil II - Reformer, Restorer, Bulgarslayer
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Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on the history of the Eastern Roman Empire continue with a video on the emperor Basil II, who became the ruler of the Byzantine empire during one of its most difficult periods and is known as the reformer and restorer. This video will focus on the reforms of the Bulgaroktonos - Bulgarslayer, and wars, especially one against the Bulgars and the battle of Kleidon.
Previous videos on the Bulgar-Byzantine Wars:
Pliska: • Pliska 811 - Byzantine...
Versinikia: • Versinikia 813 - Byzan...
Norman-Byzantine Wars:
Dyrrachium: • Normans against Romans...
Larissa: • Norman Sack of Rome 10...
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The video was made by Lito Areta, while the script was researched and written by Matt Hollis
This video was narrated by Officially Devin ( / @offydgg & / @gameworldnarratives )
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#Documentary #Basil #RomanEmpire
I know that it is weird, but our video on Achelous will come soon. There was a funny schedule mix-up that, and as this one was requested by a patron, we decided to release it. :-)
First
India-Pak (1965) War Plzzzzzzzzzzzz
In fact Romanos crowed his son Basil as Co- emperor before he died
Sepaking of which, are you going to resume your Byzantine-Bulgarian War series? Edit: Nevermind, Achelous means you would. But what about the Battle of Boulgarophygon?
@@anonymousanonymous7250 Yep. Hence, Achelous
“Strategist, Tactician, and Micromanager.” sounds like a good total war player.
The best
Awful Crusader Kings player though.
Even handling the burden of military and civil maintenance like a boss
You know nothing Jon Caesar
Of course, he played total war in real life
The Varangian Guard was everything the Praetorian Guard wished they could be.
Praetorian Guard was a good concept. Elite, Native Italian Born, High Standing Individuals. But they played politics too much.
@@alexandrostheodorou8387 and they were given to much power. They should have the same concept of jannissaries, slave who have no knowledge of local politics and language and trained to serve their master and given zero chance of politics involvement.
@@alexandrostheodorou8387 The fact that they were high born Italians meant that they were too acutely attached with Roman politics to be an effective bodyguard. If you are an emperor, you want your body guards to be totally reliant on you. Your bodyguard must care about coin, not local politics. And while you must always ensure you have a steady supply of coin, that is something much less fickle to deal with than politics.
@@scintillam_dei jennisaries was from all over Anatolia and balkans they were supposed to be royal through indoctrination - you know taken from childhood to become the perfect royal warriors - at least in theory
@LagiNaLangAko23 depends on the era. Jannisaries became corrupt after it became a hereditary position, and ethnic Turks were allowed in the ranks.
Basil II is basically Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius combined. Greatest Byzantine Emperor hands down!
Come neravar
*Roman Empire
I read the title as *_“Burgerslayer”_* and I thought *_“Relatable”_*
The Spatula of God.
Sounds racist
@@theawesomeman9821 it’s a joke, made with no malice. As an indigenous of Canada, I’ve literally been called every single racial slur you can think of for my ethnicity, I’m very conscious to not repeat such transgressions. But I can be wrong and I won’t say I am not incapable of being offensive, if so, I don’t intend as such.
"The greatest Prime Minister in Canadian history"
If only he would have partnered with a French Friar. An alliance which would conquer the western world.
Considering how busy they were stabbing each other in the back it is amazing that these Byzantines had time to fight their enemies.
Fuck thats true😋
Romans. Romans never change.
Greeks and Romans had the habit of fighting among themselves from centuries before Christ, unfortunately. Even when Alexander died, his officers and generals shared the empire and then immediately started wars against each other.
They didnt , half of them, the othe rhalf did, basil one of them.
@LagiNaLangAko23 Actually there is no 'Byzantine' word that's not an adjective.
This dude is really underrated
Not in Greece
Good thing they added him in Civ VI
Well... They named a herb after him. What more do you want?
@@pjv9361 idk. More recognition like Julius Ceaser or Marcus Aurelius :( but I have to admit. Getting a herb named after you is pretty cool
Based
As a Bulgarian I'd like to say this documentary was very well done as always. Salutations to our fellow Greeks and Serbs and here's to hoping for a better future.
My English are too poor to express how much I liked your comment, peace and prosperity for all our nations 😊
Let us remember in the end of our freedom the Serbian despotate took in all the Greek and Bulgarian scholars. A Bulgarian wrote the biography of despot Stefan the tall. A Greek brother in law of Djuradj Branković helped Djuradj make Smederevo into a new Constantinople and greatest landlocked fortress in Europe built together by all of us. May our futures be bright.
@@Pavlos_Charalambous Yes, hoping for an enlightened and peaceful European future together!
Wouldn't be nice to restore Eastern Roman Empire consisting of Bulgaria, Northern Macedonis, Serbia and Albania (and maybe Turkey)?
@@draganostojic6297 No, it wouldn't be since the culture behind the ERE would be missing. Namely, no ERE without the Greeks.
Justinian left empty money box. Basil left full money box. Basil was better manager than Justinian.
_"Past Emperors designated for themselves other burial places._ _But I, Basil the purple-born, place my tomb on the site of the Hebdomon, and take sabbath's rest from the endless toils which I satisfied in war._ _For nobody saw my spear at rest, from when the Emperor of Heaven called me to the rulership of this great empire on earth. I kept vigilant through the whole span of my life guarding the children of New Rome._ _Marching bravely to the West, and as far as the very frontiers of the East. The Persians and Scythians bear witness to this, and along with them Abasgos, Ismael, Araps, Iber._ _And now, you, looking upon this tomb. Reward it with prayers, in return for my campaigns."_ - Epitaph on Basil's Tomb
Amazing
I am proud of him.
He prefered eating with his soldiers than with aristocrats
Sadly his tomb was robbed and destroyed by Latin crusaders during the fourth crusade
He was the best campaigner. Really. Just the gold standard. He doesn't even have to say it, people do, but i mean that's what they're saying.
Why is it every time a leader tries to do something good for lower class people, it's dismissed as merely an attempt to consolidate power? Why can't it be both? History has shown one of the best ways to earn a people's loyalty is to improve their situation. To me that sounds like how a good government should operate.
Several Roman/Byzantine emperors were actually very considerate of the people Anastasius I, Romanus I, among others.
I suspect that is because many of the historians who write it in that would would themselves never do anything to improve the lives of the peasantry beneath them. You tell just as much about a historian as you can about their subject from their writings.
They argue for this argument in their "Was Caesar a good guy or not" if i recall, in which they point out Caesar probably did genuinely care about the roman peasantry and wasn't just a demagogue.
It's this snarky, reddit historian mentality where nothing can be sincere, since they themselves are not sincere people. Same thing happens with religious historical figures where their belief has to always be questioned and scrutizined. The Pope declaring the crusades just DEFINETIVELY had to be because he was greedy or something not because he genuinely believed in Christ and the duty to protect Christians and fight back against muslim encroachment. And loads of other examples.
About Basil I would say it looked honest. The guy did not even want to eat with the rich he ate with the soldiers while the ultra rich would say bad things about him And try to throw him down.
11th century Georgian chronicle "Cronicle of Kartli" depicts the colorful picture of Basil in action on the battlefield. Before the war with Georgians, For one straight year he was receiving the kind, peaceful letters from the King Giorgi I, king of Georgia. When they meet each other, Basil was expecting to solve the conflict without a war, but suddenly Georgian lancers attacked Byzantine wings. Basil, shocked and furious, took all those peaceful letters from king Giorgi, put them on the top of the pike, point it to the sky and shouted: "Look what they say and what they do, if you fail to give me the victory and put me in the hands of my enemies, I swear you, I will never worship you again!". Basil won this battle.
Never heard of that, interesting..!
Even God didn't want the smoke from Basil.
All men try not to fail God, But God himself tries not to fail Basil.
If God had a problem with it Basil would not have lived such a successful life
Fffffuking L. Didnt know that! Great story. Such a mistake of Byzantine succesors who havent kept Georgia or even Armenia close to the empire! With titles to its nobles, support to its borders, ally marriages and benefits to Georgian people! They could help and support the empire at its most crucial moments.
Forgot to mention Basil left the treasury with the largest reserve since the reign of Anatasius 6-centuries prior. It's impressive considering Basil was at war nearly his entire rule.
That’s what waging war with elite soldiers like he did is like, he could pay each soldier well and know they were worthy soldiers instead of paying a massive poorly trained horde
@@matthewmiller6987 Prędzej dlatego że nie wydawał pieniędzy na kosztowny dwór
@@wernerwernerowy8761 it’s not giving me a translation option and i don’t know what language that is
@@matthewmiller6987 more likely because he did not spend money on the Imperial court
@@wernerwernerowy8761 that likely helped a lot too
The Varangian Guard was quite the terrifying thing, no wonder the nobles stayed in line.
Having 6,000 semi-tame Vikings tends to influence people to obey you, especially if there is the threat of releasing them from their restraints and letting them go berserk.
@@Dave_Sisson as does making those semi-tame vikings the empire's secret police and then allowing them free reign to do whatever in necessary to remove your enemies.
Bargain Guard was just loyal, nothing more.
@Hoàng Nguyên Đậu except the Varangians didn't really, they were wiped out at Manzikert and when they were "reformed" after that it was with Germans. Which is why it was renamed the Alemanic Guard. That guard became corrupt, but it wasn't the same as the original one at all
@@dinos9607 a faked retreat was a very common tactic for the turks and other nomads. Byzantine military strategy books even discuss it. Romanos died because he was overconfident and overextended his force. The varangians were an integral part of the empire for hundreds of years. My point that they were ferocious still stands. When they were eventually replaced by the alemamic guard it was more for show than anything.
The Byzantine Empire: most underrated period in history ever.
The podcast called the history of byzantium is phenomenal.
@@whymustyouignorereality where can I reach it
History in my school make Byzantine look like some quiet, small kingdom (It's ignore most of Byzantine history, and focus on Western Europe instead)
How is it overrated? All i ever see in the comments of history videos are byzantine fanboys
it's a conspiracy of silence it seems. How are you going to ignore 1123 years and 18 days? Characters like Basil II, Bardas Skleros, Justinian II, Constantine XI.... It's such a rich history that shouldn't be ignored.
One of the greatest Greek-Byzantine (Romios) emperors. Thank you very much. Greeting from Macedonia, Greece 🇬🇷
@@unseen23221 modern greeks are directs descendants of the (eastern) Romans and carry on the Roman legacy.
@@unseen23221 Kalloyan has defeated an latin army, btw :P
Hello from Serbia!!! We enjoy your Macedonian beaches in the summer ♥️.
@@christermi Bla Bla Bla Research ETRUSCANS 🇹🇷 Research Ilyrians 🇦🇱
@@christermi Greeks were still calling themselves Roman in 19th century when fighting Turks!
“You get a donkey! You get a donkey! Everyone gets a donkey!”
There s gonna be a tax for that
Mules are a combination of donkey and horse. They're not very fast, but they have incredible stamina and power.
is that an oversimplified refrence ?????!?!??!
The legacy of this man... Imagine that even today in Greek we use the phrase '' among the blind, the one-eyed is the leader''.
Exact same phrase is used in Hindi, but certainly it doesn't come from Basil.
Mitko, this is from the Bible...
This has nothing to do with Basil. It is a saying.
اندھوں میں کانا راجا
It is also said that he was very militant in his own life. He wouldn't eat more than a soldier's ration, allow himself to sleep better, or ride while soldiers would march. This made his soldiers fiercely loyal to him. Maybe that's the reason why neither aristocracy or church could rival him.
Sobieski: “I came, I saw, God conquered.” Basil: I reformed, I restored, Bolgars murdered.
A badass dude indeed.
Kleidion time
@@patricianoftheplebs6015it is funny you know because those illiterate "barbarians" developed the second most widely used writing script in the world.
@@tonit4233 Cyril and Methodius where sent to aid Bulgarians after they where defeated and surrender to byzantium. They where both Greek. They made the second most widely used writing script in the world. Greeks even made you Orthodox Christians. Just because slav people love them it doesn't mean they where slavs. 'Barbarians' is used to describe non-greek people don't get triggered by it.
@@christodoulosts-zo8lh is that what they teach in Greece? It is false the alphabet you are referring to is the glagolitic one. The cyrillic one was developed in the capital of the Bulgarian empire by 2 Bulgarian slavic scholars- Kliment of Ohrid and Naum of Preslav.
The Eastern Roman Empire's early years as the remaining half of Old Rome are always left out for the Komnenian period's romantic setup of Turks, Crusades and the Holy Land. We definitely need more stories from the 600s to the year 1000 about Eastern Rome, its the greatest example of constant adaptation by a state striving to maintain its prestige as well as its continued survival. Kudos K&G!!!
Yeah, we also need the wars of indo bactria, and ancient sumeria especially the badass assyrian
While I agree, I'd definitely say more along the lines of the 700s to the year 100, I feel like the 600s are pretty well covered with the rise of Islam, the loss of the Roman East, siege of Constantinople etc
I made a graphic novel about the 10th century Byzantium but still everyone asks me for the Comnenian period. It’s all about demand
@@byzantinetales Really?! Can you tell us the name?
@@gbendicion7052 Theophano: A Byzantine tale
I live on a street named after the Bulgarslayer, in Greece naturally. I write his name out every time I order something online lol. My ex girl who was part Bulgarian wasn't crazy about the address. But I am glad that Greece, the only and true inheritor of the Roman Empire of course, has good relations with Bulgaria lately and hope this continues.
Dude they should remove the names of such streets. Honestly if we ever are to become true allies we need to stop such direct assaults. We can call Asen II the Roman Slayer or the Greek slayer but I doupt anywhere in Bulgaria u would see a street name being called Slayer of something. Ait if we both kicked the German monarchs asses out we couldve been great by now. The Balkan union wow just imagine after we win in ww1. Turkish was vs U wouldve been complete joke if the huge Bulgarian army entered the area. Seriously u were the sailors and we were the land masters at time. There is no way for Ataturk to beat the Bulgarian army. His state had man power 2:1 and maybe more but couldnt gather it.
@@ivokantarski6220 I am also a fan of a Balkan union idea, starting with Greece and Bulgaria who have a lot of common interests and good basis for cooperation, not only in military matters but also economically. As you say, together we would be a power that can not be pushed around. I hope the future generations take this idea and start to build it.
@@nextlevelbrosagency I wish we took this idea a century earlier to begin with. By ww1s end as winners the Balkan alliance couldve been 30m people. Ofcourse Greeks and Bulgarians nation builders. U from Crimea to Medditerean built everywhere and we from central asia till we reach the balkans had left endless mark of countries.
@@ivokantarski6220 Kaloyan was the romandlayer
no Greece isn’t the only and true inheritor of the ROMAN empire, no one is
As a Bulgarian I can say video is great, but the portrait at 23:57 is of the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon The Great, not of Basil II. Would be great if you make a video on him too.
Wtf are you doing here lol
Or for Kaloyan the Roman-slayer :)
Вярно е цар Симеон Велики. Хаха
He wasn't that great in the end ;)
@@steliosbyzantium9869 Actually he was just as great at the end as he was during the rest of his rule.
Persian occupied whole Asia minor and now sieging Constantinople Heraclius: well, that was a mess, at least we recovered, it cant go worse *Arabian immediately conquered Egypt and Levant and now sieging Constantinople *Bulgarian capture most of Balkan and also sieging Constantinople *Some fking Vikings came from nowhere and now also sieging Constantinople Basil II: well, that was a mess, at least we recovered, it cant go worse *Some descendants of Viking conquered Two Sicily and now going for Balkan *Turks conquered Asia minor Alexis I: well that was a mess, at least we recovered, it cant go worse *Italian merchants murdered economy *Crusaders sacked Constantinople and created Latin empire Michael VIII: well that was a mess, at least we recovered, it cant go worse *It went worse
Its a miracle that Eastern Roman empire managed to recover so many times
Byzantine Persian wars of 30 years brought big damage to both states. When muslim chalifate came Byzantine Empire was hugely weakened ans Persian one even more.
@@innosantoNot like the arabs had two massive civil wars right before their invasions and were consistently outnumbered by the often better equipped byzantines and Persians.
As a Turk i really respect Byzantine emperors. Their last Emperor fought alongside his warriors , never surrendered and died on the battlefield despite all odds stacked against him. Byzantine Empire and their people were worthy oppenents untill the end for us.
Exactly Constantinos Palaiologos according to historians met his end between the outer and inner walls of the city 😉
Roman Empire, not byzantine
bizans diye bişe yokla kim uydurdu bunu doğu roma hep bu tvler yüzünden oluyo bunlar
@Kadir Garip izledinmi
@Kadir Garip zaten bi siz akıllısınız ya devam edin böyle araştırmadan etmeden hemen bizans deyin böyle devam edin zaten size bişe kanıtlmak zorunda değilim
Such a glorious reign and resurgent empire. So sad that his glory and legacy would be all undone after the disaster at Manzikert.
Komnenian Restoration?
I'd say the 1204 crusades and the corruption inside the empire of its time would be more of it's undoing.
Well he attacked the bulgars the khazars and the georgians........ and when the seldjuks came to say Hi ...... there was nobody left to ally with ....
@@SousouCell I think he's quite dead, almost 50 year by then. Also, its not that they have no one to ally with but rather the constant internal unrest, mismanagement and corruption under the subsequent rulers that weaken the empire.
@@13gan i was refering to the byzantine empire .....even if i used " he " in the first place
For a second I thought his title was "Burgerslayer." God I'm hungry.
fuck that's amazing
Go eat then
He ate all of the Burgers
During one of his many battles, Basil the II, when one of his generals, Konstantinos Diogenis (father of the later emperor), was attacked in an ambush, and risked to be captured, the 60 years old Basil mounted his horse, and without even looking back if someone else of his soldiers followed him, he charged the enemies yelling: «Οστις πολεμιστής, ακολουθείτω μοι», i.e. "each warrior follow me". And he won the battle. That was the great Basil the II!
Translated he who is warrior ,follow me
Thank you very much for the correction in the translation!
Basil the second had Alexander the Great as a personal model and thanks to Basil many ancient Greek laws were restored as a new military unit that was made only of orphans who fought alongside the "Basileus" in the royal band " echoing the royal companions of Alexander the great.
That's why he was a great Greek
Yes
@@williamskalaios6444Basil was great because he founght the worst plague of the empire, the traitor ultra rich who did not care about the state and made personal armies to create small states within the state and were oppressing other parts of the population. Nasil would not confuse that they were bad for management and function of the king management.
This guys life perfectly summarizes the Crusader Kings Byzantium experience.
yeah asshole vassals keep revolting because of someone’s baby claim to the throne
If only Basil was Emperor during Manzigert in 1071...
If only... 😁 Just get over it.
Actually, Basil is one of the indirect reasons for Manzikert in 1071.
@@44Minutes100 was it because he reduced the power of noble families in Anatolia?
If he was emperor this battle never happened
@@44Minutes100 My theory is that Manzikert wouldn't have been so decisive if him and previous emperors or even just his successors also payed attention to the interior armies of the Themes instead of the military commands they set up on the border. When those armies were destroyed, the Thematic armies stood no chance at stopping the Turks. So if they payed attention to those and kept their defense in depth strategy that they employed against the Arabs, I think they could've stopped the loss of Anatolia
"Spam Tagmata with building Hippodrome, Tagmata go brrrr!" - Basil II
So far, the most overpowered Civilization in Civ 6.
@@williamtheconqueror7807 im not going to lie, its kinda funny how powerful ERE/Byzantine Empire is compared to actual Roma under rule of Trajan, the ruler of Rome when it was in the peak of roman golden days.
There’s a lovely anecdote about Basil after he defeats the two Bardases. When Phokas was killed in battle, his wife supposedly let Skleras out of captivity so that he could continue the rebellion. However by then he was old, couldn’t move easily, and was half blind. Basil supposedly offered him relative clemency, regarding the rebellion as a “misunderstanding”, and gave the old rebel a retirement Villa. He supposedly asked Skleras what he should do to rule soundly, and the old man told him “Take none into your confidence. Allow no woman to rule. Oppress the nobles: make them suffer under taxes and internal squabbling.”
Skleros was a red pill philosopher himself. 😃😄
''Based.'' - Basil's answer.
@Hoàng Nguyên Đậu I don't know what to tell you. Basil did tyrannise the nobility. The early Makedonian emperors beginning with, I believe, Romanus I, employed a system of land reforms that restricted the nobility from simply buying up the land used by the Themata, since under the theme system the empire's soldiers were granted plots of land to sustain them so long as they fought in the empire's defence. The nobility taking this land essentially threatened the store of manpower for the armies. By the time of Basil, these reforms had been circumvented, loopholed, and generally ignored, so he revived and reinforced them as a means of oppressing the nobility. His reign began with numerous uprisings amongst the nobility. His terrorising them was a response to this, and a means of preventing them from building the funds or influence to challenge him. It's all well and good saying that he's just going to provoke them into rebelling, but if they don't have the power or the money, what are they going to do? And the fact of the matter is that after Skleras, no major noble uprisings occurred. So you can call it bullshit, but it worked.
Nicephoros Phokas killed by a woman. On his tomb it was written "He won everybody, appart a woman"
@@aokiaoki4238 yeah, Theophano collaborated with Nikephoros’ nephew, John Tzmiskes, to murder and replace him.
My favorite emperor. Greetings from 🇬🇷☦️🇬🇷
Why r there so many greeks on roman videos
@Poop Poop italians are not tomans
@Poop Poop why
@Poop Poop Actually, it's way more likely for the Greeks to carry around more Roman DNA since the Western Roman Empire fell (approximately) in 350AD, including Italy, while the Eastern Roman Empire fell in 1453. 1100 years later.
@@argentianguis6510 yeah but the Eastern Romans were just citizens of Rome after Caracalla, so that meant they could've never set foot in Italy with no Italian ancestry and still been a "Roman". Roman DNA is more likely in the west, as actual "Romans" mostly lived there.
The battle of Klyuch is one of the darkest chapters in our history. This defeat was the end of our state, and the blinding of the soldiers is a scar in our national memory, even to this day. Basil II truly destroyed us. I do respect him though, he was a good ruler to his people, he was also fair to the bulgarian civilians after he conquered our territory. He was a vicious warrior though, the embodiment of "the ends justify the means".
I think the real fatal blow was the invasion of the Kievan Rus under Svyatoslav. There's an interesting article from some 15 years ago about "what led to Bulgaria losing the duel with Byzantium" and it suggested essentially the same, namely that the main source of the Bulgarian military power was in the north-east, the area of the capital, where presumably the armories for the cavalry were and much of the nobility (with some of that nobility being slaughtered by the Rus in Drastar). After that area was devastated, we barely see any heavy cavalry (or even siege weapons) employed by Samuil, who rather seems to use mostly infantry and light troops (and long sieges, without assaulting the walls). If the Bulgarian military elite was indeed destroyed long-term by the Rus, though, then I have to say Samuil's prolonged resistance, with presumably inferior forces, becomes even more impressive.
Basil probably knew that by integrating Bulgarians into his domain, he would lessen their chances at revolt. And to be fair, this estimation was correct, as Bulgaria only experienced 3 revolts that crowned a new monarch from 1018 to 1185. The last one, led by Peter and Ivan, was the successful one.
@@angusyang5917 Actually, there were a bit more revolts than three. Three are only the ones which ended with the crowning of the rebel leader as a Bulgarian tsar, with only the last one being actually long-lasting, whereas those of Petar Delyan in 1040-1041 and Georgi Voyteh in 1072 were crushed within a year. But there were also various other, smaller uprisings in the Bulgarian lands within that time period - f.e. the one of Tihomir, which was concurrent with Peter Delyan's (and Tihomir himself got killed by Delyan's followers), of Nikulitsa Delfina in 1066 (a rebellion of Bulgarians and Vlachs in Thessaly), of Nestor in 1074 (in northeast Bulgaria), the 1079 rebellions of Leka in Sredets and of Dobromir in Messemvria, and in a sense the Paulician uprising of Travel in 1084-1086 in northern Thrace (an uprising of the Armenian Paulicians from Plovdiv, aided by local Bulgarians, as well as several newly settled Pecheneg chieftains). Though, indeed, at least the uprisings of Petar Delyan, of Nikulitsa Delfina and the last one, of Asen and Petar, were started at least partly because of the raising of taxes, in contrast with Basil's policies.
@@NikeBG Thanks for the correction, I was thinking of Petar Delyan, Constantine Bodin, and Asen and Peter while writing that.
I'm a bulgarian and I can confirm that I miss my eye
Im Serbian and I can confirm that my back hurts still from Bulgarian knife.
@@intelstockcooler9686 backstabbing Serbia
@Ел торо Торооо No he wasn't bro :)
@@intelstockcooler9686 Serbians backstabbed Bulgaria first, Tsar Dushan the Half Bulgarian and married to a Bulgarian princess, he decided to attack Bulgaria and weaken the Bulgarian empire for 10 years he ruled haha, and shortly after the OTTOMANS take over the Balkans... you fool your stupid Tsar let the Ottomans take over the Balkans by attacking Bulgaria.
Nerelisin sen?
I love ERE history. Its struggle in medieval times and ancient legacy.
Ditto.I love suspense
Indeed a unique case in the medieval world
Finally a pro ERE video! And about such an important but underrated roman emperor!
nah he is not this underrated i would argue the 2 emperors before him are
The entire period between 940 and Basil II death is just Byzantium wrecking Everyones shit and destroying all opposition. If only Basil had a good heir
@@dhruvgandhi1755 No it doesnt. It has a 867 and 1066 start date
@@ChevyChase301 How was that Sarcasm ?
@Plamen Stoev he said the period began from 940
Yes but he had terrible ones, not even medium.
He didn't manage to solve the deep problems of the empire because it took many stupid kings to create them, it would need like you said another good king as well or 2 Kings.
Hey K&G, fun fact - what you show at 24:00 is a depiction of Tsar Simeon of Bulgaria(who presided over its Golden age about a century before the events here). This is also the second time I believe that you've used his image as that of a Byzantine ruler. Simeon himself would probably not be mad at that, however, because he did at one point attempt to claim rulership as "Tsar of Bulgarians and Romans". This was an interesting video to watch as a Bulgarian, as Basil II is certainly an antagonistic figure in our historical perspective, but it's worth to know that he was indeed a competent ruler and that he couldn't have otherwise been able to accomplish what he did were he not one of Rome's greatest. Cheers!
it will be a great video showing the golden age of buzantian empires greatest enemy the bulgars plus tzar simeon is probobly one of the best militery leaders in histry
Tsar Simeon : "I ain't even mad."
Me being Greek here:😐😑
Basil could only wish for that epic of a portrait
Tsar Simeon:I'm not mad im happy someone finally recognizes my rightful imperial title
Umm guys, that picture at the end isn't Basil, that's the Bulgarian Tsar - Simeon.
True!
Gotta admit I do look tasty from that angle.
@@mperorsimonthegreat3920 you dam rigth. I failed nnn cuz of you
As a Greek I admire Simeon. Basil was a great general but Simeon was a noble king.
@@tronrunner2498 yes Simeon was great.
I'm a simple man: it's about Byzantine Empire I like!
@@user-wf4lz6md9d most historian don't deny that Basil's Empire is Roman. But they called it Byzantine for reason
@@user-wf4lz6md9d I don't think that is the reason. For historian, it's kind of innapropriate to call a Greek Empire as Roman while there is still Latin (Roman/Romance) people in the West. It's confusing. So they simply keep the Roman for the later while calling the former as... Byzantine
@@user-wf4lz6md9d hey don't argue me. Argue those historians. I simply learned from then 😵
@@martinrdh96 Nonense. Rome had long ago conquered, unified, and assimilated the squabbling city states of Greece. By the time of Basil, the "Greeks" had been proud Roman citizens for centuries. Saying "Latin" people is also silly, since Italy was full of non-latin peoples like the Oscan s, Umbrians, Volscians, Samnites, and Sabines who would have also been "foreign" to the city state of Rome at one time.
@@user-wf4lz6md9d I can't say. I don't read many book. Barely remember the title. But if you want active historian, you can find them now mostly in Quora. They won't deny that the Empire centered in Constantinople is Roman, they admit it. But they keep calling it as Byzantine, for a reason. Hmm, deja vu. Haven't I said this before?
As a bulgarian I recognize Basil II as one of the greatest Emperors of the Empire! What a great man and formidable enemy!
23:54 that is not Basil. That's a picture of Tsar Simeon the Great He is Bulgarian and it would be a great, if you make an episode for him too. Love you videos ❣️
I think they skipped as planned as in previous video about the Rus they talked about those attacks on Bulgaria by the Rus which are here. They just continue from there 😢.
Im pretty sure that's a byzantine emperor ma dude, thats what the artist says at least ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@diocles1743 What did the artist say exactly? And what is his name by the way?
@@diocles1743 Just search Simeon the Great in Google pictures. If you'r not sarcastic.
@@diocles1743 , write in Google "Tsar Simeon" and then "Basil II"
"How's the pesto?" "Needs more Basil."
Excellently done work, as always K&G! You really represented it well (although maps were a little bit off). Also, here's a fun fact: Basil II was definitely the ONLY Byzantine/Eastern Roman emperor who never married. That of course meant that he never had any children, which ultimately, after his brother's death in 1028, led to the end of the male line of successors of the house of Macedon and by that it doomed the Empire in the long run. I mean just imagine it: the fate of the most powerful Empire in the world was doomed just because Basil refused to get laid!
Omg Justinian
His semen retention was what made him legendary, The Horni was suppressed and redirected into thirst for bulgar blood and proper administration of the Empire
@@grantdelosangeles5357 I think you haven't heard about Julius caesar
I’m currently going through a big Greek history and culture phase so this was wonderful!
It's Byzantium, not Greek, dude. And before anyone writes "Man, they spoke greek", I will answer. We, here in youtube, use English, right? I am Bulgarian but I use english. Probably my predecessors had to use greek. Byzantium was a multinational empire. It's the same to say that US are Brits because they speak english. But they say that they are Americans, right? There was no greek state between antiquity and 19th century.
@@user-hx2xl2km2e I mean, Byzantium was a political entity that used the Greek language as its lingua franca and had largely Greek customs, religion, and other aspects of culture. So, I pretty strongly associate Byzantine history with that of the Greeks. But don’t think I’m not aware of it’s multinationality. I don’t know of a true empire that’s ever existed that wasn’t ethnically diverse.
@Pantelis Tzimas Of course they were Greek Pantelis. Christians mean Greeks, we all know that. After all we are neighbors for 1400 years, we know each other very well.
@@user-hx2xl2km2e I know what you're saying. Superimposing modern identities onto any past empire is bound to lead to misconceptions. The Eastern Roman Empire was as Greek as the Ottoman Empire was Turkish, or the Soviet Union was Russian. All multiethnic, of course (an empire almost by definition has to be multiethnic), but with one prevailing language, culture and general identity. The overall, predominant identity of the Eastern Roman Empire was Greco-Roman, with the Greek element more pronounced with every passing century--not only internally, but also from abroad. From the 9th-10th centuries historical records show the empire often being referred to as the 'empire of the Greeks' by Western Europeans. And although the Eastern Romans themselves never referred to the empire as anything other than the Roman Empire, they did identify with ancient Hellenes as well as Romans. Historical records attest to this. No other nation honours and celebrates the Eastern Roman Empire like the modern Greek nation. This is where modern Greeks derive most of their national and historical consciousness. Greeks can still refer to themselves as 'Romioi' (Orthodox Roman) as opposed to 'Romaioi' (Western or Catholic Latins) in the Greek language. Particularly around the time of the Revolution (1800s) referring to themselves as Romioi was VERY common. Though it has fallen out of favour in recent times. Greeks and Cypriots are the descendants of these people.
@@a.j.fenwick7232 You are right. I was salty with the past comments because I am sick of greek megalomania and of greek fans. Problem is that Bulgaria was from the wrong side of the iron curtain and Greeks were allowed to do ugly stuff towards us.
Basil II is known everywhere as Bulgarslayer. An unjust name, based on all of the reforms during his reign and the love he received from his people. Thank you for doing him justice, with this documentary.
A lot of people view the Byzantine empire as a slow disintegration but I prefer to see it as a testament to the genius of emperors like Justinian and Basil II who kept an empire alive a thousand years after its expiry.
John II Komnenos is another good emperor to do a video on. People overlook his significance quite a bit in Byzantine history.
Fun fact: There was also a 2nd Battle of Kleidion which took place on February 1255 AD, between Theodore II Laskaris, Emperor of Nikaea, and the Bulgars of Michael Asan, lead by his general Dragan. The Bulgars were defeated again by Theodore Laskaris, who used exactly the same stratagem in order to outflank the Bulgars's defences. The main difference is that while the 1st Battle of Kleidion took place during the summer (1014, August 29th), the 2nd Battle took place during the winter, with the two armies fighting on the snow.
Actually Samuel was his biggest rival in his life and beating him was not so easy as the video shows. It is around 30 years fight with back and forwards Although Bulgaria was on its knees, Samuel was very talented Tsar and managed to save for some time. We should not forget that Bulgarian eastern half was destoryed already before Samuel and Basil by the Kiev Rus. So basically Basil fought for 30 years with half of destroyed country. So I believe Samuel was one of the best bulgarian Tsars in order to manage to survive for 30 years with half of the country resources.
Yes that's what I was about to say I have read some books around this time and Samuel is portrayed as a very talented man who is also beloved by his people. Their battles often been like a chess game and even they hate each other there was a feeling of respect (not of course for the acts or personality but for the challenge they each oppose for another)
And let's not forget that Basil was nearly killed at Trajan's gate in 986 by Samuel's army. He had luck and strong armenian bodyguards.
@@shadow-qp2ns You are correct. But it is valid throughout the whole history of Byzantine. They fought always on multiple fronts. But to be honest it was valid also for Bulgaria during this time - Kiveska Rus, Hungary and Serbia. Also its elite was destroyed and half of the coutnry + the capital already conqured. So personally I cannto envy Samuel ,because it was fight against the one of the last good Emperors of Byzantine, full might of the empire and in the same time your own country was half already. The point that he managed to survive,restore the Buglarian empire and almost kill the emperor is astonishing. It was very hard task for him.
Something like Khan Krum , but this time he did NOT manage to kill the emperor. If he succeded during the Trajan Gate - it will be different. But hostory is not about IF.
@@shadow-qp2ns Yeah, you are right about that, but in that way of thinking you should consider the devastation of Bulgaria by the Rus. They destroyed 60 fortresses in the Danube region. Samuel was a talented tsar but unfortunately he was not a very competent general. He lost several important battles because of that. But I still think that the video should have included more about him. Basil was a very competent ruler, no doubt about that. He achieved something many other failed to achieve.
Nikephorus Phokas damn sure deserves his own video!
A fun fact about a certain name in the video. Nikephoros Ouranos translated in Greek literally means "Victory-bearing Sky". Though that some of you might find that interesting!
@Alexander Great Niki= victory ,foros= carrier ,ouranos pronounced uranos= sky
Whoever wants to learn more about his mother Theophano, check my graphic novel Theophano: a Byzantine Tale. It's in my plans on making a sequel about Basil II too.
I read it, it's awesome!
I read the first two volumes of Basil Basileus. It's Great!!! Thank you!
The short span of time that passed between Basil's reign and Manzikert serves as a pretty potent warning....incompetent leadership and neglect can lead from victorious heights to total disaster very quickly. Basil's legacy was betrayed by the inheritors of the dynasty, and the overbearing arrogance of the aristocracy he had held in check.
This is the best documentury of all for Bulgaria and Byzantium.
I wish he was talked about more in history classes, there really is much we can learn from his life.
How to shock your enemy into suffering a stroke a dying and other important life lessons for 21st century middle schoolers.
One of your best videos so far. You make great use of all the information available to us , even when it's limited. It's refreshing to see this channel improving so much over the years.
Thank you so much for making this video. Basil II is literally the last great emperor who brought true glory to the Roman Empire.
One of my favorite Roman Emperors of all time. He is one of the greats like Augustus, Trajan, and Marcus Aurelius.
He was not Roman
Hadrian ? Aurelian ? Diocletian ? Basil the Macedonian ? Alexios Komnenos ? Manuel Komnenos ? Heraclius ? who practically destroyed the Sassanid Empire and left it ripe for Arab conquest
@@johnnyboy3410 yes they were all great man
@@constantinexii8182 how was he not Roman ? He was emperor of the romans, he lived in the eastern Roman Empire and his enemy at the time describe him as one of the greatest Romans of this time. Even on this tumb and on his coins it is written and carved ROMAN EMPEROR.
@@johnnyboy3410 Eh, why i of course agree with Aurelian before Basil II. I'd say every other Emperor you listed was worse than Basil II. Also why Did you Pick such a Mixed Emperor As Manuel Komnenos. I cannot forgive seeing Marcus Aurelius There thats Just saying you like him because of his Books might aswell love Constantine VII
As a bulgarian i can say that we study him as antagonist and yeah he put our country in worse condition but in fact Basil 2 was one of the greatest bytantium emperors
no he wasn’t, why do Bulgarians keep overrating themselves ? like you had 2 rulers that can be called competent and the rest of the time Bulgaria was vassal to someone
Yes and he was not Bulgar-slayer. He won war and had a single brutal event. So the name is misleading and is shadowing so many good things he did. His management of the state was good and the mamagemnt of many oligarchs was useful
I'm so glad I found this channel through the recommendations. Every video is a gem.
Yeeeees been waiting for a major history channel to make a documentary on this man! Thank you k&g!
I like to think this man defined the phrase, "Be brutal in war as you would be generous in peace".
Besides what Basil II has done on the battlefield I liked very much this part in which he once becoming a ruler of Bulgaria did not removed the Bulgarian aristocracy but integrated it with the Byzantine. A great leader move.
I've never clicked on video so fast before! I've been waiting for a video on Basil the Bulgar Slayer forever!
1 million dollar question to all macedonists - if tzar Samuel was a "Macedonian" king why emperor Basil II is called Bulgarslayer and not "Macedonianslayer" as he conquers the BULGARIAN kingdom of Samuel which was located in today's lands of the Republic of North Macedonia? I am open to discussions with all macedonists.
Hey, northern neighbor, those type of people will find no difficulty with changing history. I am ashamed to assure you, that a lot of people lack even common sense. Wish you all good.
@@dimitarchokovski8048 You are not historian, you are a liar and a lunatic.
@@dimitarchokovski8048 Noone in the medieval times didn't write about some fantasy nation state called "Macedonia" (except the ancient greek state). You have learnt some parallel history. The person who taught you that nonsense must burn his diploma if even has one. You didn't answer the question why greeks call Basil II the Bulgarslayer.
@@dimitarchokovski8048 If someone ever asks you what you are, tell them "brainwashed".
@@dimitarchokovski8048 Don't take so seriously to these videos. The viewer's here mostly teenagers, young people whose getting historical info only from social media platforms instead of from taking searching various sources or reliable books. So even you're right about, that doesn't change anything, the most of people in here merely counting on Narrator's knowledge, sources.
Truly he was "Terror in war. Ornament in peace".
I like how almost every video about Byzantines includes a civil war. It was like national sport to them.
It's interesting how the Eastern Roman territory of southern Italy and Sicily paralleled the Hellenic region of Magna Græcia 1500 years earlier.
I've been waiting for this one for years. Glad to finally see Basil II get some representation.
He was a reformer and had great military successes but he never gave into hubrys. "Basil is described as having ascetic tastes and caring little for the pomp and ceremony of the Imperial court, typically wearing a sombre, dark-purple robe furnished with few of the gems that usually decorated imperial costumes". That's what you can call a leader.
24:05 This is Tzar Simeon 1 of Bulgaria. The painting is from Dimitar Gyudzenov.
let them lie , that's what they are good at Unfortunately
@@aleksk4151 hahahahahahh bzttvurt bulgar dont lose your eyes
@@lessssssgooooo you are disgusting, first everybody knows the 15K blinding is exaggerated and propaganda so im not butthurt because it isn't real. Secondly, byzantines were blinded too many times. You thank God you have eyes and eye vision instead of mocking because you don't know how life can turn around against you and take what you have. Thirdly, Bulgarians made a cup from your skull, drank wine from it and celebrated our victory in the 811 war destroying 2 emperors Nikephoros and Staurakios in 1 fight
@@lessssssgooooo Bulgarians won you lost Deal with it .
@@lessssssgooooo SIMEON the GREAT destroyed you hater of Bulgarians 913-927 war
The greatest Basileus we ever had! Basil the II protected the poor and the small land property from the aristocratic elit, he forced the aristocrats and the big land owners to restore back all the lands that they have taken from the small land keepers the past 80 years, and he also forced the rich to pay the taxes of the poor, when they couldn't afford to pay them. He defeated all the enemies of the Roman state, from the Bulgars, to the Arabs, to the Lombards in Italy. He was responsable for the convertion of the Rus, to the Christianity. He left the economy of the state in good conditions. He had a great group of generals like Nikephoros Ouranos, Nikephoros Xifias, Theofylaktos Votaneiatis, David Arianitis, Basil Boioannes, and others. Trully Basil the II was one of ghe greatest leaders of all time!
@@user-rq2ly4bf1w Justinian was a great emperor, but the taxes that he set upon the people, in order to support his millitary campaigns were disastrous. While Basil protect the people's small land property from the aristocracy, and he forced the nobility to pay the taxes that the lower classes couldn't afford to pay. For this reason Basil was loved by his people (except the big land owners). There was told that the people cheered whenever he passed from their city or village yellling "Βασιλειε συ νικας", which means "Basil you win". In addition, Basil lead personally his armies in the battles, something that Justinian never did.
I can't belive you posted that video right now. What a coincidence, I have to present a project about him in a few days and I think it helped me to form a general idea about Basil II. Thanks!!
Bardas Phocas and Scleros didn't realize how clever Basil was. His predecessors were great politicians (Basil I, Romanoi), scholars(Leon VI, Constantine VII) and generals(Nicephoros Phocas,John I). Basil II was wise.
Fascinating work, as always. Would love to see more videos on the glorious Bulgarian Empire too, there are many beautiful stories to be told! On a completely different note, my dream is to see you guys making a video about Emperor Majorian!
You guys always post videos of people I'm most interested in at the time it's brilliant.
Every time I see-learn my history from non Greeks I feel proud and humiliated at the same time!!!
@@scintillam_dei wrong
Καλά κάνεις και νιώθεις έτσι. Θα έπρεπε να έχεις τις ξένες πήγες ως δευτερεύουσες (Η ελληνική βιβλιογραφία είναι πλήρης) ή να τις μελετάς παράλληλα.
@@scintillam_dei Pride is a totally human emotion.
@@scintillam_dei Pride is not an error.
@@scintillam_dei No, it's not.
Basil II and Alexios I are my two favourite emperors! So happy with this video, thank you K&G!
''A long revolt sandwich with a sweet filling of stunning military success and relative domestic bliss'' Great writing!
The question is: when will you create content about the Eastern Roman Marcus Aurelius, John II Komnenos?
How about the Charlemagne of Eastern Europe -me
I've heard awesome things about Basil II. He certainly deserves to be remembered. He must have been a really interesting character to serve under. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.
Finally 😍😍.... one of my if not the favorite Roman emperors.... excellent work guys you're amazing as always 👏🏻👏🏻
I have never been more exicted for a video in my life!
Amazing as always! not many channels cover Basil II, Thank you KnG.
NICE. Have been refreshing my feed for the past 30 mins just for this
I remember you guys from 98k subs. What a great achievement and the improvements made during the time are amazing :)reading history is fun and easy accurate (99%?) I love you king n generals
They have come a long way isn't it? What attracts me to them was their videos about Napoleon back in the day
We Bulgarians and modern day Macedonians with whom we share one history, language, faith and culture and with whom we also share one blood still remember and honour the sacrifice of Samuil's loyal soldiers! There are many places, songs and tales of this epic conflict - there's even one village in Bulgaria where some of the survived blinded soldiers established school for blind singers! Your video was excellent as always! Keep up the good work! ☺️
Good to see Bulgarians and Macedonians realising you are one. 100% respect from a Hrvat.
@@daz7122 Someone should tell this to the politicians... :( Love from Bulgaria! :)
@@nikolaygeorgiev1093 you're the same people basically .
@@user-jy8mj8qb6w I agree but as i stated before someone should tell this to the politicians :D Otherwise we are basically the same people :)
I been waiting for this dude forever! He was a beast! Thanks Kings and Generals
I have been waiting for it for a long time, thank you very much. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I think this was great with the one issue of not really recognizing what his younger brother did. Constantine was the pretty face, gregarious and just person that remained in Constantinople and made sure that everything ran butter smooth so his brother could devote himself entirely to his endeavours. This was something a lot of other general emperor's would struggle with since their efforts to campaign would be clipped at due to unrest in the capital and scheming. Constantine ensured this never happened and with the children he was blessed with made sure Basil never had to worry about something as mundane as inheritance.
Great video as always. I was nicely surprised when you for a few seconds mentioned medieval Croatia here, hopefully one day you will make a video about it. 😁
A remarkable video of a remarkable figure! I have always found it to be a chapter of the most potent historical irony that Basil II, who ruled well and was an unstoppable soldier, could not fulfil his ultimate duty to the Macedonian Dynasty, and Byzantium's greatest Emperor ensured the chaos of the 11th Century and the fall of his own house, and the destruction of his legacy. The animations were also exquisite. Great work Kings and Generals.
the wonderful surprise was this!!!! Thanks kings and generals which briefly covered one of the most important moments of the eastern Roman state and the eastern Mediterranean!💝👍
Love Byzantine history and this channel, awesome video! 👏🏽
Thankfully, not all from the Lost Empire has been lost. Basil II is a remarkable figure! Thanks guys!
One of the best while alive. Great video and a Shout out to history of Byzantium podcast for its amazing breakdown of this period as well.
A video of BASIL II oh boy , one of the most fascinating emperors out there, one of the best as well.