Battle of Kleidion, 1014 - Basil breaks the Bulgarian Empire - Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer (Part 5)

[@HistoryMarche]

🚩 Thanks to Kamikoto for sponsoring this video! Get an additional $50 off on any purchase with code HISTORYMARCHE during their Black Friday/Holiday sale. Go to kamikoto.com/HISTORYMARCHE and help support the channel. 🚩 Basil II Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLWwyDn76LiH1ILQgm32Kyqj3-_FBluiPW

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

You're incredible man! You always make My day 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@death-istic9586]

Love your videos!💚

[@catnaut9035]

Bulgarians will never use Kamikoto after this

[@brokenbridge6316]

Loved the video. Hope we don't have to wait too long for the next part.

[@mfulan7548]

Where are the sources for the video?

[@valerigeorgiev977]

The Bulgar-Byzantine wars lasted six centuries and had their ups and downs for each side. This is an epic Midieval saga, a Balkan Game of Thrones that deserves to be filmed.

[@basicinfo8786]

They lasted more then that untill the second WW2 when the Bulgarians expelled from Macedonia and Thracia in Greece 😂

[@slavzahariev3901]

​@basicinfo8786 And yet we're back buying properties on Halkidiki and Eastern Trace.

[@basicinfo8786]

@@slavzahariev3901 You can come without your guns like human and not animal

[@slavzahariev3901]

@basicinfo8786 Oh, dear, let's not go into this. We have a lot to talk about Greek atrocities against Bulgarian population during Balkan wars.

[@basicinfo8786]

@@slavzahariev3901 yes sure propaganda history

[@vitorpereira9515]

Basil II's life was filled with hardships, but he endured them all, and like a blade being forged by a hammer, each trial only made him stronger. He proved that greatness is not simply inherited but earned through perseverance and determination. The lesson is: It's not shameful to fail, it's shameful to give up.

[@MJ511KW]

Slava Russia

[@vitorpereira9515]

@@MJ511KW it's Slava Ukraine.

[@MJ511KW]

@@vitorpereira9515 Slava cocaine ?

[@vitorpereira9515]

@@MJ511KW Better than Russia.

[@zippyparakeet1074]

Him and Alexios Komnenos are truly the greatest Eastern Roman Emperors after Constantine the Great. While Justinian the Great also deserves his title he did not struggle as much as these people did because he inherited a much stronger and capable Empire. Yes, the same goes for Constantine but Constantine is Constantine, there'd be no East Rome without him.

[@lisakeitel3957]

The son of Samuel looks like a good son, rescuing his 70 year old father in battle.

[@radislavrashev7266]

On June 14, 987, a quarrel broke out between Samuel and his brother Aaron, who was negotiating for peace with Basil II. It ended with the destruction of the entire Aron family except for his son Ivan Vladislav, who was interceded by his cousin Gavril Radomir. Ivan Vladislav and Gavril Radomir are believed to have participated in the Battle of Trajan's Gate in the Ikhtiman Pass in 986, when the Byzantines were defeated. This thesis is advocated in some historical works, but a number of researchers reject it.[4] Samuil and Gavril Radomir were wounded in the Byzantines' successful battle at the Sperhei River in 996. King Samuil, at the height of his power, married Gavril Radomir to the daughter of the Hungarian ruler Geza. This marriage broke up after Geza's death, as the Bulgarians did not support his son Stephen I in his claim to the Hungarian throne. As a result, Byzantines and Hungarians, through joint actions, defeated the Bulgarian troops in the northwest. Vidin falls in 1003. Immediately after the Battle of Belasitsa in the summer of 1014, Gavril Radomir defeated the army of Thessalonica Duke Theophylact Votaniatus near Strumica.[5] King Samuel died on October 6 of the same year.[6] Nine days later Gavril Radomir took the throne.[7] The same fall (1014), Emperor Basil II penetrated with his army to Bitola and burned the palaces of Radomir.[8] According to John Skilitsa, Gavril Radomir was killed while hunting by his cousin Ivan Vladislav (March 1015), who proclaimed himself king and sent a letter to Basil II offering peace. Byzantine diplomacy is supposed to have been involved in the coup. According to the Duclian Annals, Basil II promised Durrës to Ivan Vladislav for the murder.[9] Gavril's eldest son Radomir was tortured and blinded, and his other children were handed over to Basil II in Ohrid, after the death of Tsar Ivan Vladislav in 1018, along with Queen Maria, her children, and the dukes. Marriage and progeny editing Gavril Radomir married twice: ∞ 1. for the daughter[10] of the Hungarian ruler Geza Ungarski, divorce 988 or ca. 1000, by whom he has one son: Peter Delyan (* c. 1001, † 1041, Constantinople), Bulgarian king in the period 1040 - 1041, 1040 at the head of the uprising of the Bulgarians against Byzantine rule. According to a hypothesis by Jan Mladžov,[11] a Byzantologist at the Department of History at the University of the Humanities in San Diego, Gavril Radomir and the Hungarian princess also had a daughter, Agatha, who was married to the English heir to the throne, Edward the Exile. The second hypothesis for Agatha's Bulgarian origin is that of the Russian Byzantologist K. Kapsalikova. According to her, Agatha is not the daughter, but the granddaughter of Gavril Radomir by his son Petar Delyan. ∞ approx. 999 for Irina of Larissa, also known as Irina Kamateros/ Irina Radomirova[12], by whom he had: five sons and two daughters, whose names are not known.[13] Memory editing In honor of Gavril Radomir, the highest peak of Mount Belasitsa has been named Radomir since 1942.

[@radislavrashev7266]

Let's adding ... Gavril Radomir defeats the military detachment of Basil's favorite, Votaniat. Votaniatus was literally gutted with a spear personally by Gavril Radomir, and because Basil (he is proven that he has the opposite sexual orientation, i.e. he is gay) falls into hysteria over the death of his lover and orders the blinding of the prisoners captured earlier near the village of Klyuch. It is a known fact that there is a Christian code not to kill captives, which was almost always followed because he could be excommunicated from the Byzantine Orthodox Church…. Therefore, Basil decided not to execute these 1,500 Bulgarian prisoners, but to subject them to torture. Bulgarian soldiers are blinded with knives stuck in their eyeballs.

[@JuiceStainded]

@@radislavrashev7266 Comments like these are always interesting to read. Thanks for the additional info!

[@PlaceholderAccount-l]

Just like Consul Scipio and his Son Scipio Africanus in Ticinus.

[@johntitor_ibm5100]

I've been keeping my eye out for this video. I'm glad I could see it in time.

[@v4facade]

I see what you did there.

[@arejaycee5704]

Pardon the pun 😉

[@marvelchuruk7052]

The diversity of your material, besides the high quality naration, the presentation in total, as well as the sequential, crystal clear explanations, makes your channel NR.1 for history battles material...NR.1!!...You got your niche just right, I am literally looking forward to your every new video...I am from North Macedonia btw, we learn this battle in the history books, the storry is very close to me and thank you so much for adding up to the information I knew and making this "story" richer, for me at least...

[@crazyhercules9442]

Was not expecting part 5 so soon, lol. I love it. Keep them coming.

[@fabiusmaximus2356]

This battle is extensively covered and very controversial in North Macedonia. In school they taught us that Samoil was a Macedonian and his empire also Macedonian. To make it even more complicated, we were also told that Basil II was also somewhat of a Macedonian because he came from a Macedonian dinasty. I could never understand what the hell was going on until the age of internet arrived 😂

[@ivanergovic2634]

Propaganda at its finest lmao

[@maligjokica]

To be feer, they dont spoke about macedonian state but Samuil state. To say macedonian state for historical person who bore the title the Car of the Romans(romey) and Bulgarians us too much strec😊😊

[@Hypogeal-Foundation]

FYROM school education at its finest lol I mean you have cool statues but c'mon

[@radislavrashev7266]

List rulers macedonian dinasty Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811-886, ruled 867-886) - married Eudokia Ingerina, mistress of Michael III; died in hunting accident Leo VI the Wise (Λέων Ϛ') (866-912, ruled 886-912) - son of Eudokia Ingerina, legal son and heir of Basil I; possibly the natural son of Michael III; created church crisis with his fourth marriage-Zoe Karbonopsina, who took over as regent for their son, Constantine VII, in 914 and ruled the empire until 919 Alexander (Αλέξανδρος) (870-913, ruled 912-913) - son of Basil I, regent for nephew Constantine VII the Purple-born (Κωνσταντῖνος Ζ') (905-959, ruled 913-920 and 945-959) - son of Leo VI and Zoe Karbonopsina; married Helena, daughter of Romanos Lekapenos Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός A') (c. 870-948, ruled 920-944) - staged a successful coup in 919 and became senior emperor in 920;[11] deposed in 944 and exiled Romanos II the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β') (938-963, ruled 959-963) - son of Constantine VII Nikephoros II Phokas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκᾶς) (912-969, ruled 963-969) - successful general, married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil; assassinated (Origin: Cappadocian) John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α')(925-976, ruled 969-976) - successful general, brother-in-law of Romanos II, lover of Nikephoros's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil II and Constantine VIII Basil II (Βασίλειος Β') the Bulgar-slayer (958-1025, ruled 976-1025) - son of Romanos II Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντῖνος Η') (960-1028, ruled 1025-1028) - son of Romanos II; silent co-emperor with Basil II, sole emperor after his brother's death Zoe (Ζωή) (c. 978-1050, ruled 1028-1050) - daughter of Constantine VIII Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ') (968-1034, ruled 1028-1034) - eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ') (1010-1041, ruled 1034-1041) - Zoe's second husband Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε') (1015-1042, ruled 1041-1042) - Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (980-1056, ruled 1042) - daughter of Constantine VIII, co-empress with Zoe Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντῖνος Θ') (1000-1055, ruled 1042-1055) - Zoe's third husband Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (ruled 1055-1056) - restored Non-dynasticedit Michael VI (Μιχαήλ Ϛ') (ruled 1056-1057) - chosen by Theodora; deposed and entered monastery

[@lucinae8512]

So its not just Philip II and Alexander the Great, North Macedonia will try to culturally appropiate any historical figure with loose connections to the region?

[@vangelisskia214]

"One of the most solemn moments in Byzantine history occurred when the longest-reigning emperor of the Romans, Basileios II (976-1025), mounted the Acropolis in Athens in 1018 to celebrate a military triumph in the Parthenon, a temple to the Virgin Mary." Anthony Kaldellis, "Byzantium Unbound", 2019, Arc Humanities Press, Leeds, pp. 39

[@WhatIsThisForAgain]

A temple to Virgin Mary? Wtf?

[@vangelisskia214]

@@WhatIsThisForAgain Most early churches were actually built on previously pagan temples. There was a famous church on the Acropolis during the 'byzantine' era right next to the ancient Parthenon, the church of Panagia Atheniotisa (Virgin Mary of Athens).

[@southface6684]

Greco imperium

[@borisgorski7574]

@vangelisskia214 He is not just celebrating a triumph, he is celebrating the victory over the terrible Bulgaria ! So it is written in their chronicles.

[@achilleuspetreas3828]

​@@vangelisskia214it wasn't next to the Parthenon, it WAS the Parthenon. The Temple was converted into a church

[@BernardoTorres-w5e]

I believe that nothing can replace , for clearness , these oral and visual descriptions of battles , and whole narrations of events of history , always with an animated map right in front of you , accompanying these narrations .

[@marcussmith2868]

You've opened my eyes to many obscure and missing battles from my education thank you very much I will continue to listen to your stuff congratulations also on your extensive research

[@raisetheblack6991]

After the battle of Kleidion the command of the defeated Bulgarian army was taken over by Gavril Radomir, who gathered the surviving forces and resolutely repelled the Byzantine offensive. The enthusiasm that swept Basil II after Kleidion was tempered by the heavy defeat of the Thessalonica governor and imperial favourite Theophylact Botaneiates. Drawn into an ambush set up by Gavril Radomir in a mountain pass, Botaneiates "... fell dead ... as Radomir pierced him with his spear..." When the news of Botaneiates's death reached Basil II, he was forced to give up any further advance in the interior of Bulgaria. Overwhelmed by rage, but with a peculiar, icy calculation, somewhere in early September 1014, Basil ordered the mass blinding of the captured Bulgarian soldiers - the monstrous revenge for the death of Botaneiates actually reflected the emperor's powerlessness to finally solve the "Bulgarian question", as it seemed after the victory at Kleidion. Pavlov 2015, p. 93-94. According to Skylitzes, the death of Botaneiates alongside most of his men greatly disheartened Basil, so that the emperor, despite his victory at Kleidion, halted his campaign and turned back to his base, Mosynopolis. It was only after reaching Mosynopolis and learning of Samuel's death that he turned back and continued his campaign. Holmes 2005, p. 26. I must note that the Bulgarian resistance lasted until 1019. It is remarkable that, despite the heavy defeats, the Bulgarians successfully fought back for such a long time (971-1019) and inflicted serious losses to the Romans, regaining most of the lands they lost to Tzimiskes and even conquered new territories before they ran out of options and eventually surrendered. Great series, I think you should cover the Byzantine-Bulgarian wars during Simeon the Great next. Cheers!

[@mitkodimitrov8396]

not only Basil 2,dont forget Svetoslav of Kievan Rus help him so much

[@DrKarmo]

Do we have any detailed depictions of the battles of Simeon?

[@raisetheblack6991]

@@DrKarmo I think we do have enough ''source material'' for series like this for the period between 894, when Simeon's first war began, up to 927. Especially when we include the conflicts with the Magyars and the Serbs that were part of the Byzantine's foreign policy towards Bulgaria at the time.

[@rawka_7929]

This is actually pretty accurate, and people overall understate how much Bulgaria under Samuel held on despite being against all odds. Devastated by combined Rus, Byzantine and even Magyar invasions. Serbia also breaking off and Croatia being a nuisance, and of course Basil II who while not as good militarily as many give him credit for, he was still among the best Roman Emperors in history. Samuel is honestly a legend, and honestly the thing holding him back the most was the fact that the man was in his senior years as he was holding out his resistance, had he been younger he mightve even won. Also tbf, he did cover Simeon The Great in a video, and then another one on the battle of Achelous.

[@JuiceStainded]

I suppose you could say that the Bulgarians proved themselves to be most worthy of Roman citizenship, displaying much of the never-give-up spirit of the Romans during the 2nd Punic war. My respects on their warrior spirits.

[@Achates72]

I would love to see the battle of Clontarf in 1014. It was a battle with serious results.

[@HistoryMarche]

Planning to start on it soon.

[@Achates72]

@@HistoryMarche That is so cool. I tried researching it. But there was very little information I could read.

[@Nortrix87]

@@HistoryMarche I hope it shows the civil war it was. Viking and irish on both sides.

[@jmeatball8799]

Another excellent video on one of the great Emperors of Byzantium. Keep up the good work!

[@basicinfo8786]

They never refer for the Greekness of the byzantine empire! This Western BARBARIANS they took everything from Greece but they never give nothing back ..let me tell you

[@planed1978]

Благодарим ви!

[@HistoryMarche]

Thank you so much for the support! Very kind of you.

[@tumadreestamuerta2462]

After all this caps, I can say one thing. Even when Basil II is our protagonist, Samuel was also a chad and a really impressive men

[@AverageMOEgym]

Samuel was 70! Leading a charge! That’s badass

[@bartoszszczepaniak169]

He had to have a good physique at that age,. Imagine how fit that guy was when he was younger.

[@bartoszszczepaniak169]

He had to have a good physique at that age to do this. Imagine how fit that guy was when he was younger.

[@odalv316]

According to Greek historians, they found Samuel's grave in 1965. He had a broken jaw and arm that didn't heal well, probably from the battle at the Sperchios River. I'm not sure how accurate sources are.

[@simeondunev4890]

@@odalv316 Where is the grave ?

[@odalv316]

@@simeondunev4890 On the island of Saint Achilleios in the Little Prespa Lake (today in Greece). Along with his son and Ivan Vladislav.

[@GEOPOLITICALANALYSIS]

The Greeks have fought countless times with the Bulgarians.

[@FidelKrasniqi-j3m]

They were the Ilyrians including the Greeks. Or better say the Albanien speakers.

[@GEOPOLITICALANALYSIS]

@@FidelKrasniqi-j3m No Albania back then. Albanian language is a mix of slavic, greek, latin, turkish. Illyrian were a Greek tribe.

[@DaniilDimitrov]

i dont remember of any with Greece specifically in the last 200 years

[@GEOPOLITICALANALYSIS]

@@DaniilDimitrov Yeah because we have existed for thousands, you're thinking small lol

[@DaniilDimitrov]

@GEOPOLITICALANALYSIS good one 😂😂😂

[@liberty_and_justice67]

Thanks!

[@HistoryMarche]

Thanks so much for the support! Very kind of you.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

This saga is so amazing man! Love your content 😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@HistoryMarche]

Thanks for the visit man!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

@@HistoryMarche Always! Huge fan

[@julianstoianov5859]

Thankyou very much ...matches what I have been tought at scholl

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for a terrific video! There's so much Roman history well after the "Fall of Rome." ⚔🔥👏

[@cichlid9626]

Actually byzantine empire is greek empire mostly and not Roman all names are greek names and not latin even the name byzantine is a greek name.begin as a child of roman empire due to common coulture but with the start of the arab wars the empire already passed in greek hands and around 1100 byzantines hate latins as the devils.actually Byzantium is greek medieval history

[@southface6684]

It's not Roman history is Greek history

[@cichlid9626]

Its greek medieval history the child of the Roman empire was byzantines and through the common coulture many greeks prefer themselves as romans at the beginning of the east roman empire but 300 years later withthe start of the arab wars and Sassanid empire wars the empire slowly passed in greek hands all names in the army the orders the unit types named greek so after the 600ad until 1453 the end and fall of the Constantinople its a greek medieval history less known to the west

[@linobenetti6578]

lol....

[@Declan-uncheckedsavage]

Brilliant as per usual

[@zigo373]

As a bulgarian this episode is just pain

[@kolokithas7865]

As a Greek it's painful too.

[@joaobomfim4278]

History is mostly pain

[@Ne0LiT]

As a bulgarian, I do not find this to be painful though? Bulgarians were treated well in the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire, only little before the rebellion of Petar and Asen when taxes were raised especially high and power was taken away from the Bulgarian nobility. It was then when the Asen and Petar brothers did quite the spectacle in order to get everyone to revolt and establish the 2nd Bulgarian Empire. What is painful is the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire, as the new overlords were not as nice as the Byzantines were....

[@charlethemagne5466]

Well your people did invade and pillage lands that weren't yours for hundreds of years so... earned i guess?

[@klausbrinck2137]

Why? Bulgarians were land-pirates, brigands, and never managed to organize themselves, in order to keep what they possessed (or fight according to a code). As soon as Basil found time to take care of the "bulgarian issue", he did, with the expected success... The Bulgarians simply had luck, that Basil couldn´t take care of them far earlier... The Bulgarians lost nothing, cause there was no effort put in what they thought they possess, in the first place... Assaulting defenseless villages, spreading death and chaos, looting and maiming, for decades, isn´t really "deserving" the lands you´ve conquered this way. That´s why they were punished as brigands (robbers and pirates, following no code of war, having no honor or dignity), through blinding, and not as soldiers... It was righteous (back then), and became a reality... What the Grecoromans learnt from it, was that the Bulgarians aren´t any peacefull neighbours, one could rely on... Which is a shame...

[@alexyefymenko2929]

Thank you very much, this is one of my favourite topic🤝

[@momentomori5263]

i love this channel i always run full marathons on with snacks

[@johnpauljones4190]

Great video, as always!! Huge respect.

[@SMJ495]

Gavril Radomir doesn’t get enough credit for what a badass he was

[@KHK001]

Part 5 already! thanks HM!

[@yuwish6320]

Nicephorus Xipheus took his cavalry up those mountains, and came down behind the Bulgarian forces? That mountain range goes from 300m to over 2k in some places. That's insane!

[@RisumiesEdits]

Probably used narrow mountain passages

[@georgios_5342]

Ah yes, the famous Battle of the Key 😅 Knowing that it's the Key to entering the narrow mountain pass, it makes absolute sense!

[@miftariial7194]

Hey, thank you for the again great video! Your work is truly amazing and I cannot think of something better than enjoying evenings with your content. Do you consider also making a video for the Fall of Constantinople and the last speech of the Emperor Constantine 11th Palaiologos, showcasing what really an Emperor means! Thank you!

[@sapphicgeek24]

I'm new to Byzantine history, and it just gets wilder and wilder.

[@roryokane5907]

Weird seeing Kamikoto as a sponsor for this channel, given that other channels dropped them a while ago, if memory serves.

[@krasipetkov2070]

I suggest you make a summary of the battles of Khan Tervel, Khan Kardam and Khan Krum. They crushed the Romans and Arabs before Christianity was accepted in the Bulgarian Empire.

[@aestimatio2843]

This is brilliantly portrayed Bravo HM

[@PapaTanduo]

Magnificent commentary 🍷

[@oscarvi3232]

Excellent video as always.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was an informative and super wonderful historical coverage video ,shared by an amazing ( History Marche) channel. History Marche channel is always sharing remarkable and magnificent historical coverage videos...thank you (🙏 history Marche) channel

[@bigsarge2085]

Sometimes you have to blind 15,000 enemy combatants, or they never learn. ~Basil II, probably.

[@Ghostrex101]

And now imagine that you have been chosen one of them

[@anders7159]

Its Crazy to imagine they prefered to be blinded than to die

[@tylerellis9097]

⁠​⁠@@anders7159It’s not like they had a choice in the matter lol. Blinding was standard Byzantine protocol for Rebels which Samuels state was considered as since John Tzimiskes conquest. Basil did the same to the Georgians after they betrayed him.

[@anders7159]

@@tylerellis9097 of course they had a choice, they were 15 k strong they could have died fighting, actually The rest of The army probably did that, they chose to die fighting knowing what fate awaited them, they went down with intact honor while the 15 k cowards...

[@tylerellis9097]

@@anders7159 it was not 15,000 men, that is a myth. We can’t even hard prove it happened given no contemporary source reports it. The Bulgarians wouldn’t even have manpower left if it was 15,000. Besides the prisoners also included Bulgarians taken from previous campaigns, what can they do dearmed and bound surrounded by a 20,000 strong Byzantine army.

[@noaheustache1232]

Pour l'algorithme. Thanks you for all your work. ❤

[@highevan]

In 1018 Basil II deliberately embarked upon a pilgrimage to Athens directly after his final victory over the Bulgarians for the sole purpose of worshipping at the Parthenon, where at those times resided the Church of Panagia Atheniotissa. His view of the Parthenon unwittingly mirrored that of the ancient Athenians who originally constructed it: as a monument for the celebration of a military triumph over “barbarians”.

[@stanbatakarata6081]

Ohio Bulgaria is 10 century is civilizacion in Europa .Haves Schools, .And Best student from East Roman Empire. WHAT barbarian. Read History..

[@highevan]

@@stanbatakarata6081 Whether they actually were "Barbarians" or not is insignificant. The fact of the matter is that according to the sources of the period, Basil II and generally the Greeks considered them as such...

[@notapuma]

​@@stanbatakarata6081found the Bulgar.

[@stanbatakarata6081]

@@notapuma ?

[@aleksk4151]

Greeks considered Barbarian anyone who wasn't Greek 😂

[@pauldrysdale7936]

Another day in history that is not forgotten. Gr8 video as usual 😁.

[@AbhyudayaSinh]

Very informative ❤

[@pseudomonas03]

"Βασιλειε συ νικας", i.e., "Basil yοu triumph". Basil's determination was incredible. Even if Samuel tried a diversion, by sending an army to attack Thessaloniki (which was ultimately repelled by the General Theophylaktos Votaneiates), in order to force Basil to deviate from his strategic objective, and move to defend the city, Basil remained unshakeable, and continued his course towards Kleidion. Then his great General Nikiforos Ksifias, with his maneuver, which brought him behind the enemies's line, was crucial for the decisive Battle at Kleidion. I would like to add that there is also a 2nd Battle of Kleidion in February of 1255 between the forces of the Empire of Nikaea, lead by the Emperor Theodore II Laskaris, and the Bulgars of Michael Asen, in which, Theodore Laskaris, performed the same maneuver, and outflanked the Bulgar troops, winning the battle.

[@aleksk4151]

Ok man but you gotta give credit to Bulgarians because they didn't break down with 1 punch as Basil initially thought so . They gave Byzantium a run for their money and actually defeated them inn several battles despite Byzantine empire was at the peak of it's power

[@pseudomonas03]

@@aleksk4151 Of course. Considering that Basil fought in five (!) fronts (Bulgars at north, Arabs in the East, Georgians at Caucasus, Hazars in North East, Longbards and Normans in the West), and the internal conflicts as well, it shows Basil's iron determination by facing such a great and powerful adversary like the Bulgarian state and army of Samuel. The valour of the opponent reflects the achievement of Basil.

[@aleksk4151]

@@pseudomonas03 Bulgarians fought Hungarians,Serbians,Croatians during Basil and Kiev Rus earlier which affected the Bulgarian state. So your argument collapses. You fought many they fought many too. But you are a bigger and richer empire so they had worse odds.

[@aleksk4151]

@@pseudomonas03 we know Basil was very strong ruler probably the most capable alongside Justinian in ER history

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

@@aleksk4151 to comparing those weak nations against the arab caliphate, lol

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Keep up the good work.

[@gsh64]

Thank you for your work

[@christosmavrommatis912]

There is an old saying we still use in Greece : "Among the blinded, the one eyed rules"

[@hhier9395]

This exists in Germany as well, unrelated to any battle (the stupid rules the more stupid).

[@hopeundertheblacksun]

In India too. We say "Andhon mein kaana Raja" which has the exact same meaning!

[@lgnd-lm6ug]

Bulgarian version is - In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is king

[@klausbrinck2137]

This has nothing to do with the battle, and was a supposedly casual phrase already 1000 years before the battle... It was supposedly the phrase, that gave Basil the hint he needed, as to getting the bulgarians out of the region, (despite being blind), instead of blinding every single of them, which would turn them into beggars, that would remain in the region forever...

[@johnquach8821]

Very nice video! I think Basil II was very effective.

[@anasioannis566]

Nice again as always❤

[@Moon-li9ki]

I cannot thank you enough for releasing videos on basil ii without waiting months between each one. In my opinion, Basil II is the best eastern roman emperor

[@GeorgeAlexopoulos-o7w]

He was NOT "Eastern Roman!!!! He was GREEK!!!!

[@coyote4237]

Thank you.

[@miroslavkozarov8803]

Imagine being a monster so powerless ,so only thing you can do is blind captured defenceless prisoners for revenge. And also it was not mentioned how Samuil died.After seeing his blinded troops,tsar Samuil had a heart attack.Thats a ruler who truly cares about his people and couldnt bear their suffer. No such rulers in Bulgaria today.

[@kalts3o622]

Powerless? Basil literally was the last good emperor Byzantine empire had, Samuel did worse things to conquered villages and towns... Search it up... Basil was generous he didn't kill them all

[@LepriconKiller]

​@@kalts3o622 Thats generosity ? Id rather be killed then blinded with a knife, proning infections in a time where there are no antibiotics ! He send them home to be burden to the Bulgarians, they could no longer fight or be a treat, but they can be a heavy burden to their family and people! They needed to eat, to be tended to etc. This is not generosity my man, this is pure evil - yes it was brilliant - but pure evil.

[@kalts3o622]

@@LepriconKiller dont act like they didn't do anything... They killed many innocent people and pillaged many villages, rapped women and killed them and their babies. The Bulgarians stayed on the Greek peninsula for many decades and the empire was on the brink of collapse... Maybe you are right, we can't describe him as generous but still, they had to be ounoshed in some way

[@RinorKingi]

Very good video

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

It's amazing how much Byzantium began to contract after Basil ll reign! His nieces carried on his dynasty for decades but militarily it was never as strong as it had been under him

[@hegantank6495]

it actually kept growing in the east for another decade after basil died, was the turks normans and pechnegs in the 1040s who really began to cause problems

[@alejandroguanes1230]

Great content!

[@v4facade]

I can't believe he gave away free eye surgery for 15,000 foreign subjects. What a generous man.

[@kueapel911]

He cured blindness, one might say, by turning them into corpses so they are no longer suffering from blindness.

[@chiruzbg]

Kaloyan also wanted revenge against the Byzantines for blinding 14,000 of emperor Samuel's soldiers. Kaloyan called himself Romanoktonos (Roman-slayer) after Basil II, who was called Bulgaroktonos (Bulgar-slayer)... . In 1201, Kaloyan captured Varna, the last Byzantine stronghold in Moesia, which was defended by a large garrison. Despite capturing the city at Easter, Kaloyan ordered every Byzantine to be thrown in the moat.

[@GuildOfTheImmortalBlades]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for making these videos as I quite enjoy every minute of each video.

[@HistoryMarche]

Glad you like them!

[@Moon-li9ki]

I'm starting to suspect that being ambushed and decimated in narrow valeys is a roman tradition

[@123skillax]

the greeks probably domt see us as a fierce enemy in their history but ad a bulgarian this part of history is so fascisnating. especially since bulgaria many times were the underdog. also a good reminder that this is the longest war in european historyvi think 675 years long until the ottomans invaded us...... unreal when yiu think about it

[@theawesomeman9821]

I took world history as an elective in college so I could learn more about Slavic histories, like the Bulgarian Empire. Unfortunately, my professor glossed over any history regarding the Bulgars, so I appreciate this video being very detailed about the Bulgars.

[@wo0t7]

You understand that the Bulgarians are not slavic, right? Just because they speak a language that's similar to a slavic language doesn't mean that they are ethnically (blood related) to slavic tribes. Most historians think that Bulgarians are from turkic/steppe tribes.

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@wo0t7 I'm going off what my history professor referred to them as. They may not be Slavic but most historians label them Slavic anyway because how influential Slavic culture was to them.

[@radislavrashev7266]

these professors get 5000 euros each, but there is a shortage of shepherds both in Bulgaria and the EU and Turkey

[@Georgi.Delchev.Reborn]

@@wo0t7 The theory about the Turkic origin of the Bulgar tribe was debunked by US, Spanish, Italian and Bulgarian historians and geneticists. Only in North Macedonia, Serbia, Russia and Turkey the academia is still using the old communist history books written 100 years ago.

[@LepriconKiller]

Slav is a culture, not ethnicity! There is your mistake! Are Russian slav ethnicity? NO! They are Vikings, who embraced the Slavic culture!

[@oneshotme]

I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@ηγη]

perfect video love from greece

[@jewelthief9355]

Macedonia is was and will be Hellenic just like its Rulers like Alexander and Phillip

[@Rai-Bulgaria]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mdwtk]

This guy Basil is pretty good, I hope he stays around for a while

[@kaloianm.9103]

Please make a video about Tsar Kaloyan, because he was great tactician who defeated Latins and video about Ivan Asen ll because he was a gigachad Christian monarch

[@dansmith4077]

Comment for the algorithm awesome video love your content never stop thanks.

[@HistoryMarche]

Much appreciated!

[@nowizza]

Proof for everyone from Macedonia whom claiming Samuel was Macedonian, it is not true. He was Bulgarian and that's why Basil got nickname Bulgarian slayer.

[@Najaf-gb3me]

Bulgaria was the name of the empire derriving from the proto bulgars. Samuel was not of any proto bulgar dynasti. And the inhabitants of the empire were and are still Dragovites and Bersetai, hence the language (slavic).

[@dayanbalevski4446]

@@Najaf-gb3me His dynasty is that of the Krum dynasty actually. Do some research.

[@mmogamesfan]

@@Najaf-gb3me His father was of an old Bulgarian dynasty.

[@MagnusKeanus]

@@Najaf-gb3me Samuil's father, the powerful Bulgarian boyar Nikola, was a Comite of Sredets. That is, the governor of a military-administrative region in the First Bulgarian Empire. The ruler of the important city of Sredets (today's capital of Bulgaria, Sofia) was usually a close relative of the Tzar. The area of Sredets was not inhabited by Dragoviti and Berziti. Slavic became the official language of the First Bulgarian Empire as early as 893. This is likely even before Comite Nichola was born.

[@dvdrgz88]

Great Video!

[@Proud2bGreek1]

Will you be continuing the story of Hannibal soon?

[@aveekmanna912]

Waiting fr the further parts

[@thebaba620]

They thought us this part of history in second grade😂 The books had paintings of blinded men marching desperately to the Bulgarian capital and our teacher was describing the incident as if she was there when it happened, scared the shit out of us at the time

[@atreast.4331]

In other words, true Macedonian Greek Basil the second vs Samuel the Bulgarian of kaukasus. Fake Macedonians exposed

[@coldpllay]

Reaction to Han Krum's brutal killing of Byzantine King Nikephoros and drinking wine from his skull. Basileos the Boulgaroktonos (Bulgarian Slayer). Such a brutal history.

[@Carlo-zk2cy]

Basil II’s re-integration of the Balkans to the empire allowed it to endure the lost of Anatolia in 1070s.

[@Carlo-zk2cy]

@@XcT27 If his reign was followed by at least 3 consecutive competent emperors, I think history would have been different. Those emperors would have further stabilized the newly reconquered lands.

[@Frenchylikeshikes]

I actually know very little about the Byzantine empire. This video was perfect.

[@duarelax5985]

Interesting to see that despite we, Albanians, have been ruled for quite sometime by the Bulgars, share very little culturally and DNA wise!

[@IL_Bulgaro1]

Bro there weren't Albanians at that point of history, and the corect name is Bulgarians not bulgars . Albanians came way later on the historical stage , few decades before the ottomans? Cheers

[@duarelax5985]

​@@IL_Bulgaro1 ..."few decades before the ottomans?"...hahahaaa, OK man! What would I expect from someone with that name... if you are ignorant about Albanian history then why would you comment?!! I, also, am ignorant about Bulgarian history...but at least I don't comment things I don't know.

[@IL_Bulgaro1]

I'm not ignorant just saying that at this particular time period there is no such a thing as Albanians , give me some facts if you disagree.

[@duarelax5985]

@@IL_Bulgaro1 First of all the locals do not need a name to identify themself, the outsiders do... this is a well known phenomenon among historians. That is why Bulgars, Serbs etc still maintain the same name of the tribe they come and settled in the Balkans. Now, are Bulgars all from Asia and Serbs all slav?!!!... no, they are not...they mixed with the locals, they diluted like the piss in the sea, but often the culture persist more than the DNA. Regarding Albania, at the time of the events in this video we were divided in tribes and all under the Roman and Byzantine empire. The name Albania is mentioned for the first time in 1079 AD from Michael Attaliates, a Byzantine historian... this name is from one of many tribes called Arbanon, from there the name Arberia, Arberesh, Arvanitas, Arnaut etc...same people same language. Before this name we were called Epirotes, Epirus and the north Kosova with the surrounding was known as Dardania... and lastly, like the cherry on top of the cake, we are the most DNA tested people in the Balkan...and the tests confirm we are the oldest and less mixed group of people in the Balan. Anything else you will like to know?

[@Eazy-ERyder]

Basil II was such a BOSS! A complete MetaChad.

[@jaeger5400]

I love this channel.

[@johnwilmarkconda2562]

Did Samuel die due to shock seeing his blinded men? I watched a video about it and it said that he died due to the horror of seeing the punishment

[@MarinKarimov]

yes, he dies from a stroke seeing his blinded army

[@АлександърАлександров-ь1к]

According to some bulgarian historians, Basil II was determined to conquer Bulgaria because one of Samuil's sons- Aron, made fun of him for being gay. Apparently he really was.

[@ISAF_Ace]

For the glory of the algorithm!

[@Mfoukos]

Basil grows up in time of two great emperors, Nikopchoros phocas and Ioannis Tzimiskis.. 2 well knows emperors that loved war

[@bulgariabg8182]

The “Northern Macedonians” must explain us this 😂😂😂😂

[@theodorathanasiadis6629]

Ohris was capital of Bulgarian Kingdom,they didnot teach this in their schools.

[@mustafapetrovoglu1673]

So what? ​@@theodorathanasiadis6629

[@svetoslavstanchev9977]

@@theodorathanasiadis6629 Also Skopje before Ohrid.

[@theodorathanasiadis6629]

@@svetoslavstanchev9977 So true man.Kingdom of Bulgaria,

[@barkingamer4225]

Its not about the triumph, its about sending a message

[@tylerellis9097]

Basil did celebrate a triumph after winning through lol

[@mexicoball2529]

After the battle Basil did the unthinkable, he freed 15,000 bulgarians for which he became the bulgar-saver

[@stilianyordanov2952]

Correction: Basil II had ordered 15,000 Bulgarian prisoners to be blinded and leaving 1 out of every 100 Bulgar prisoners with one eye to lead their comrades home. This cruel punishment gave Basil II the immortal nickname "the Bulgar Slayer".

[@zippyparakeet1074]

​@@stilianyordanov2952it was a joke, nerd 🤓

[@aleksk4151]

No worry. that was the ONLY time when Bulgarians got overpowered....lets continue with the series Byzantine-Bulgarians Wars shall we HistoryMarche Bulgaria will create another Empire and win almost Every battle win very fight that follows from Basil onwards. Keep it going 💪

[@wankawanka3053]

​@@aleksk4151 no they won't lol if they did hiw come nicea was the one to take Constantinople from the latins and not bulgaria

[@aleksk4151]

@@wankawanka3053 🧐😊 ok

[@1972hermanoben]

Like a sniper who shoots to wound rather than kill, the blinding of such an enormous number of his enemies’ troops would’ve placed a far greater burden on them than the simple loss of the same number of men: 15,000 men not killed yet still needing to be replaced, requiring either to be euthanised (with all the horrific logistics involved and the damaging consequences to morale) or kept alive, basically doubling the costs of the upkeep of the same number of fighters. Absolutely ruthless and deeply demoralising as well as strategically wounding to his enemies. Shrewd operator.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

The battle that gave Basil his "Bulgar Slayer" Name. Awesome! He truly was the greatest Byzantine Emperor! Keep the great work man! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴

[@Clearwood_]

How can he be the greatest "Byzantine" Emperor to an empire that never existed. You know this battle is in 1014 and the city of Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330 when its name was changed to Nova Roma and then to Constantinople.

[@ioannis7744]

@@Clearwood_ Either way it was populated and governed by Greeks who have spoken the Greek language. They called their empire Romania, because they claimed the heritage of the Roman empire.

[@ramiromen6595]

Weird to think that in a few years you will be covering my own campaigns of conquest

[@odalv316]

I find myself more impressed with Samuel. The man was an underdog and 70 years old at the time. Bulgaria was in decline during Boris time and the Rus invasion was the final nail in the coffin.

[@odalv316]

@Iamnotracistlmao more like 55 - 56

[@dengo6716]

Never in 100 years i thought i would see my hometown in a history channel 😄

[@FieldTactics]

I leave a sacrificial comment to the Great Algorithm. Great video also lol :)

[@HistoryMarche]

Legend!

[@huzi1876]

Please accept this humble sacrifice

[@MiddleEast-4Ever]

This was very powerful battle

[@visitbulgaria7485]

Conflicts between Eastern Roman Empire and Bulgaria weakened both states ... After all this fighting what is next ? I will tell you - Crusaders/fighting against Orthodox Christians for fame not for their beliefs/ ,Mongols and Ottomans ...

[@dolfpicha8084]

Браво на Самуил, българският цар

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

He came, he saw, Bulgars blinded.

[@Stafo777]

Will be there video about Krum the Fearsome or Boris 1,Tsar Simeon I the Great?

[@highevan]

"In this respect, it is noteworthy that early-medieval written evidence from the Bulgar realm testifies to a Bulgar preference to the ethnonym Graikos (Greek), instead of Rhomaios (Roman), by the designation of the Eastern Romans." Yannis Stouraitis, pp 130, "Byzantine Romanness: From geopolitical to ethnic conceptions: Early Medieval Regions and Identities"

[@usvidragonslayer3091]

Man i know that battles are brutal but never to the point where it can blind you.

[@darthveatay]

There’s a reason why Basil is called Boulgaroktónos (bulgar slayer) this is why

[@rawka_7929]

Bulgar Slayer is actually a name given around 200 years after his death, mostly based on myth. But the Roman Slayer on the other hand...

[@rawka_7929]

@Iamnotracistlmao Basil II "ate up" a weakened rump state that was fighting on all sides for decades, and he still just barely won over the Bulgarians. Roman Slayer had stopped the Latins at their peak and pretty much shattered their forces and the myth of Latin invincibility. While also devastating Thrace and pillaging/depopulating entire towns and villages all throught it, which was something the region would never quite recover from until the Ottomans in a way.

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

@@rawka_7929 "The Roman Slayer" defeated the Crusaders who were fighting the actual Romans.

[@rawka_7929]

@Iamnotracistlmao Yes, but Bulgaria had much and I mean MUUUCH less resources than the ERE.

[@rawka_7929]

@Iamnotracistlmao Roman Slayer literally depopulated entire towns and ended the Latin Empire's true might while nobody else could. Basil II ate up a weakened rump state after decades of constant war where he almost died.