Basil II - Reformer, Restorer, Bulgarslayer

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. :-)

“Strategist, Tactician, and Micromanager.” sounds like a good total war player.

The Varangian Guard was everything the Praetorian Guard wished they could be.

I read the title as “Burgerslayer” and I thought “Relatable”

Considering how busy they were stabbing each other in the back it is amazing that these Byzantines had time to fight their enemies.

This dude is really underrated

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.

"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

Basil II is basically Justinian, Theodora, and Belisarius combined. Greatest Byzantine Emperor hands down!

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Varangian Guard was quite the terrifying thing, no wonder the nobles stayed in line.

The Byzantine Empire: most underrated period in history ever.

“You get a donkey! You get a donkey! Everyone gets a donkey!”

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.

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!!!

Such a glorious reign and resurgent empire. So sad that his glory and legacy would be all undone after the disaster at Manzikert.

The legacy of this man... Imagine that even today in Greek we use the phrase '' among the blind, the one-eyed is the leader''.