how did basil ii die

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. The main fields of external conflict were in Syria, Armenia, and Georgia on the eastern front, in the Balkans, and in southern Italy. At least on paper, Basil shared the role with his sibling Cecil, but it was very much Basil who ruled in practice. He was 75. Basil Manly Parks II, named for his father’s eldest brother, Colonel Basil Manly Parks, was born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, on 28 December 1939. 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 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). ;II. The Funeral Mass of HE Cardinal George Basil Hume OBE which took place on 25th June 1999 at Westminster Cathedral and was broadcast live. 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. 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. Why didn't they bury them like they did the citizens of Egypt? 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. 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. Death. Basil II reigned for a long time, from 976 to 1025. The emperor would have to wait 28 years to gain his revenge, although when it came it would be total. 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. A natural question is why Basil II blinded the soldiers and didn't just make them slaves or even recruit them into Imperial service. 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. Basil II. This encouraged two rebellions, those of Bardas… Basil Stag Hare was a Mossflower Woods resident and an expert in camouflage. 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. 1. 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. Cartwright, M. (2017, November 09). and Theophano, great-great-grandson of Basil I., was born about 958 and crowned on the 22nd of April 960. What did Basil II do to the 100th POW in the group? The Basilisk is a giant serpent, also known as the King of Serpents. How many years did it take the Ottomans to completely breach through the walls of Constantinople? What are the 8 Achievements of Basil II? Basil’s main focus, though, was the west and revenge on the Bulgars. This ruler centred his activities in Macedonia and established his hegemony in the west Balkans. 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. Basil II ruled with his brother Konstantin VIII (who practically did not interfere in the affairs of the state administration). Corrections? There WAS a lack of the razzmatazz that one would expect from an emperor - no lavish parties, fine robes or flashy rings. 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. … A great, great-grandfather, the Rev. Books Paul Stephenson reveals that the legend of the "Bulgar-slayer" was actually created long after his death. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The young Basil was not a particularly fine physical specimen, although he was skilful at riding a horse. 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. Byzantine Empire, 1025 CE by Necropotame (CC BY-SA) 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. What title did Ivan III use? Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Basil was born c. 330 CE into an aristocratic family who had a large estate at Ibora on the Pontic-Cappadocian border. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Basil II (aka Basilius II) was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 976 to 1025 CE. Actor Basil Rathbone, whose roles ranged from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes, died of a heart attack Friday in New York. The Byzantine Empire was a vast and powerful civilization with Greek origins that can be traced to 330 A.D. He died in 1,025 AD. He dressed plainly and even when wearing the purple chose only a dark hue. Death. 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. However, before he could venture into this conquest, Basil II fell ill and died. Certain Russian soldiers remained in Basil II’s service, forming the famous imperial Varangian guard. I also create an icon artefact of Basil II to lead my army icons. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 09 November 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. so they could lead the others out of camp. The rebel army was routed, and three commanders were each given a uniquely tailored death: hanged, crucified, and impaled. 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. Justinian I was succeeded by Justin II 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. Toward the end of his reign he intervened in Armenia, annexing Vaspurkan and part of Iberia. 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