Basil retakes Macedonia! The tide turns ⚔ Battle of Skopje, 1004 ⚔ Basil II the Bulgar Slayer Part 4

🚩 By the end of the 10th, Emperor Basil realized he cannot fight a two-front war. So he began consolidating his position against the Fatimids in the east and shifted his focus west. Between the years 998 and 1004, Basil the Bulgar Slayer began the destruction of the Bulgarian Empire.
🚩 Basil II Playlist: • Basil II, the Bulgar S...
🚩 Support HistoryMarche on Patreon and get ad-free early access to our videos for as little as $1: / historymarche
🚩 Big thanks to History Rhymes for collaborating with me on this video: / @historyrhymes1701
📢 Narrated by David McCallion
🎼 Music:
Instinct - Bensound
Impact Allegretto - Kevin MacLeod
Crypto - Kevin MacLeod
Epidemic Sounds
Volatile Reaction - Kevin MacLeod
Filmstro
#history #documentary #medieval

[@HistoryMarche]

🚩 Basil II Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLWwyDn76LiH1ILQgm32Kyqj3-_FBluiPW 🚩Big thanks to my Patrons for their support! Without it I would not be able to keep making these videos. 🚩If you'd like to help the channel, you can sign up on Patreon and get ad-free early access to my videos for as little as $1 www.patreon.com/historymarche

[@death-istic9586]

Hi.

[@mfulan7548]

Where are the sources? "History" channel act like this, meh

[@Hauggyful]

Please continue the series on Hannibal, the last episode was some 8 months ago. Love the channel!

[@emadbagheri]

​@@Hauggyfulyou are under the impression that this is a history channel , this is in fact a history brothel, who ever pays the most on Patreon gets to have their way with it !

[@nobleidowu4919]

Thank you so much for the algorithm 🙏🙏🙏

[@angelosdaresis1477]

In 1018, Basil II the Bulgar Slayer 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 those who originally constructed it: as a monument for the celebration of a military triumph over “barbarians”.

[@nenenindonu]

The Macedonian Dynasty has be one of if not the most competent house of the ERE producing likes of Basil II, Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes etc.

[@Munciboss]

Nikephoros and John weren't of Macedonian blood though as they acted as regents for Basil II and his brother Constantine VIII

[@tylerellis9097]

I mean it didn’t produce Nikephoros Phokas or Ioannes Tzimiskes. Besides you forgot the man who started the reconquest era with Romanos Lekapenos.

[@nickholsinger5481]

@@tylerellis9097 you mean John Kourkouas? 😊

[@basileusp5494]

The last members of the Macedonian Dynasty were FAR from competent. Even the great Basil II can be blamed for not securing a competent heir to safeguard all of his gains. He apparently only worried about the welfare of the empire during HIS lifetime. The rapid collapse of Eastern Roman power after his death should also be a part of his legacy.

[@tylerellis9097]

@@nickholsinger5481 John was actually a loyal commander and didn’t become Emperor, but yes he is also very underrated and his campaigns are the start of Byzantine dominance with the reconquest of Melitene and his raids into Armenia and Mesopotamia. He is very much the start of what Nikephoros and Leo Phokas plus John Tzimiskes continued

[@زکریامکاری-ب3س]

As always, another quality video, as an Iranian, thank you very much for supporting the subtitles of other languages ​​of the world, such as (Persian).

[@explorer1968]

All my respects to the Persian empires and civilizations, such as the Aechemenids, Parthians, and Sassanids! Greetings from Puebla, Mexico!!

[@planed1978]

Благодарим ви!

[@HistoryMarche]

Thank you so much for supporting my channel! Very kind of you.

[@planed1978]

@@HistoryMarche Thank YOU for your wonderful content and professionalism!

[@ДаняШУЛИКИН]

Can't wait for the next part on Basil's conquests. Your battle videos are so exciting.

[@sipanica]

Congratulations to the artists on the details :). I live in Skopje, literally where you draw the Bulgarian camp :) And btw fording of Vardar river is actually quite easy.

[@DamericRes]

Maybe now, but who knows how it was back then?

[@sipanica]

Normally we cannot know how it was a milenia ago. But I remember summers when I was literally able to walk across, not even knee high, and I can't imagine that back then it was many times deeper

[@NikeBG]

@@sipanica Generally, due to a number of reasons, rivers today tend to be shallower than they were during the pre-industrial era. For example, right in front of my house there used to be a large Roman bridge over the Great Iskar river. Nowadays, that Great Iskar has turned into a measly canal - about a metre wide and 20-30cm deep. I guess it's because rivers today are dammed, diverted for agricultural and industrial needs (this is especially true for the smaller tributaries), etc.

[@majorianus8055]

And i love how its called the Roman Empire there! We need to spread the awareness

[@agustinfigueroa3239]

Now that you've made a video about the Civil War I'd really like to think you are going to cover more conflicts in America. I've dreamed for so long to have the Pacific War of 1879-1884 covered in this channel. Congratulations on your hard work as always! Love from 🇨🇱

[@KHK001]

Amazing video as always! love these Roman series!

[@thecrusaderhistorian9820]

Wonderful video!

[@georgiancountryball202]

I like how this was released 2 days after I finished watching the entire series till this point

[@Kimmerios-l5u]

It's not eveyday that I discover such a detailed and meticulous work in historical matters.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

You come through again man! Suggestion: Do the Conquest of Granada by the Catholic monarchs, the glorious end to the Reconquista!

[@Spartan_Disiplin]

Let me tell you,Tsar Samuel is one of the most formidable enemy that Eastern Rome has ever faced. Whenever odds are stacked in the Romans' favor and the Bulgarian Empire nearly finished, Tsar Samuel makes an unexpected move like a wizard pulling a rabbit out of his hat and saves the day.

[@paulyotzuar2788]

Definitely not 😂 Did we not watch the same video. Samuel was not a worthy opponent

[@tylerellis9097]

@@paulyotzuar2788He definitely was being able to form a new Bulgarian state in its underdeveloped western territories away from the traditional Bulgarian centers of power after the Rus invasion by Sivatoslav and subsequent conquest by John Tzimiskes. Samuel was able to subjugate the Serbs and unite the Bulgarians under him despite being from a minor Dynasty while resisting the power of Basil II for decades. The fact he could be defeated by the Byzantines repeatedly and still pull of wins afterwards without the state collapsing is impressive. Byzantium couldn’t do the same when the Seljuks arrived.

[@kingkwon8002]

@@tylerellis9097The Seljuks lasted only 100 years after Manzikert’s victory against the Byzantines. They were crushed by the Khwarazmians who were annihilated by the Mongols after another 100 years. The Byzantine Empire outlived all of them.

[@daspotato895]

@@kingkwon8002 There were 8 civil wars in the decade after Manzikert. Even though the Byzantines lasted longer, they were by no means immune to collapse.

[@kingkwon8002]

@@daspotato895 Their collapse was definitely inevitable but it would’ve happened centuries earlier for any other civilization (Seljuks, etc). That was the point I was trying to make for the guy I responded to

[@robbabcock_]

Thanks for another fantastic documentary! ⚔🔥👏

[@LeRoyDecapite]

The "festival" distracting the guards of Adrianople that tsar Samuil was trying to exploit is the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which the Orthodox celebrate on the 15th of August.

[@701duran]

great work as always

[@mhuston7355]

Great content. Thank you.

[@47ravenlord]

I absolutely love this channel!!!! Excellent work, as always, and your hard work is much appreciated.

[@ΧΡΗΣΤΟΣΤΑΛΑΙΠΩΡΟΣ-ο3υ]

Very nice work, I look forward to see the next part.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love Your content man! The greatest Byzantine Emperor returns! Please do Constantine the Great sometimes!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤

[@ploppyploppy6554]

Fantastic, thank you I hope all your family is well .

[@nicochevez2124]

So owesome and interesting please do more!! ❤🙏

[@Antaragni2012]

Allways pleasure to watch your videos! Well done!

[@colokan99]

I hope you never stop making these high quality videos, they are just perfect❤

[@Hxstory-o7x]

As always a great Video, thank you very much for recently making a Video about Augsburg ,much Love from Augsburg ❤

[@alexyefymenko2929]

As usual, perfect video 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@brokenbridge6316]

The campaigns of Basil II is certainly an exceedingly curious read. And one I enjoy.

[@Uli18Zytozid]

Great videos as always

[@taniadescoteaux5577]

Amazing content !! c'est toujours un plaisir de regarder tes vidéo ... ! merci :) !

[@ermine1448]

Love Your content man!

[@odalv316]

Another great episode❤

[@mevlanisufi2100]

Hello. I'm watching this from Skopje 😊. Greetings everyone.

[@hoegger77]

great series, thank you!

[@majorzbombasu6788]

Could anyone know a name of a soundtrack in 6:14? I looked in to a music from the descripction and this track is not listed.

[@mostafa_hafiz]

Thanks for the awesome video

[@giannis7720]

I just started watching the series 2 hours ago and u just uploaded the 4th part! Best timing ever

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

one of my favorites emperors, i hope you will do more about the son of alexios komnhnos and his grandson manuel

[@CelxD]

Great video like always!

[@oneshotme]

I enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@basileusp5494]

Basil II has a lot of military similarities with Ulysses S Grant.

[@davexorus9836]

This should be almost as interesting as Hannibal series. As a Georgian hope you will cover our fight with Basil also❤

[@The_ZeroLine]

*_”Quickly overcoming the grief from the passing of his adopted father.”_* 😂

[@coyote4237]

Thank you.

[@TrentBattyDrums]

Every time you post a new video I get so excited like a little kid, it’s kinda sad to be honest. I love this channel way too much. 😂

[@theawesomeman9821]

Nice video on the struggle between the Greek Byzantines and the Slavic Bulgarians.

[@aleksk4151]

Basil lost twice in Pernik to a local warrior named Krakra

[@hopeundertheblacksun]

​@@aleksk41511018; next

[@stefanvas6984]

Hmm, while this was the dominant ethnic and linguistic component in the both empires, by definition they were multi-ethnic.

[@wankawanka3053]

@@aleksk4151 if he lost why was bulgaria erased from the map? except if you count the new byzantine theme of bulgaria LOL

[@atrides7]

very very nice sir! thanks for the video but I hope it doesn't take too long for the next one to air, I can't wait!!!

[@AlexC-ou4ju]

Thank you for this excellent video.

[@charlesjohnson6777]

Great video

[@davidsauls9542]

Oohh I hate it (not) when you do this ! I can't wait for the next episode !

[@Sticna78]

Hey History marche can u guys do a video about Battle of Velbuzd ?

[@vangelisskia214]

"The Romans and the Bulgarians viewed each other as distinct people, and many among the latter, especially the former ruling class, desired freedom from 'GREEK oppression'.” "Later medieval Bulgarians called the Byzantine period “the GREEK slavery.” Anthony Kaldellis, "Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade", pp. 174

[@sanele2948]

How could that be when the Roman’s ruled those lands as far back as 170 bc?

[@vangelisskia214]

@@sanele2948 Many people seem unable to grasp that Roman identity was solely a political/civic identity until the "Byzantine" empire was geographically reduced to mostly Greek speaking areas at around the 7th century A.D. But after the loss of Syria and North Africa by the Muslims, the term "ROMAIOS" gradually took an ethno-linguistic sense referring ONLY to the GREEK SPEAKING Chalcedonian Christians who now were the majority population of the empire, utterly becoming a SYNONYM of the terms "GREEK" which was always being used as the Latin semantic equivalent of "Hellene" and "HELLENE" itself which from the 10th century onwards gradually also revived with it's original ethno-linguistic connotation (since paganism was no longer a threat) and came to refer to the exact same people..

[@vangelisskia214]

@@sanele2948 "After the Empire lost non-Greek speaking territories IN THE 7th AND 8th CENTURIES, "Greek" (Ἕλλην), when not used to signify "pagan", became synonymous with "Roman" (Ῥωμαῖος) and "Christian" (Χριστιανός) to mean a Christian Greek citizen of the [Eastern] Roman Empire." "Roman, GREEK (if not used in its sense of 'pagan') and Christian became SYNONYMOUS terms, counter-posed to 'foreigner', 'barbarian', 'infidel'. The citizens of the Empire, now predominantly of GREEK ethnicity and language, were often called simply ό χριστώνυμος λαός 'the people who bear Christ's name'." Harrison, Thomas (2002). Greeks and Barbarians. New York: Routledge., p. 268

[@sirjoey3137]

Weren't the Bulgarians the invaders?

[@sanele2948]

@@vangelisskia214 thanks for the info. Are Bulgarians stepp nomadic ppl or are they a branch of Germanic tribe?

[@TheIronChancellor]

Such a legendary emperor can't wait for the battle of kleidion

[@HistoryMarche]

Coming in part 5, next week.

[@TheIronChancellor]

@@HistoryMarche Great news

[@aleksk4151]

Basil lost twice in Pernik . Greatest warrior Krakra 💪💪

[@wankawanka3053]

@@aleksk4151 still conquered all of Bulgaria ;)

[@ηγη]

perfect video love from greece

[@kevinajjenkins]

I don't know why Basil II is such an interesting character.

[@stanbatakarata6081]

One of Great Ruler in World in 10-11 century

[@moritztabor1678]

I love your videos

[@Chico_Julio]

Basil II did things that their enemies have never seen before...of after.

[@McJibbin]

Great video as always! Still love Samuel tho

[@n4j4f92]

Man i really like your videos, i hope you can cover the video about warring state of china (battle of qin vs coalition army) and the last battle of joan Arc.

[@ki5739]

The region of Macedonia however at the time was the one around Adrianople. Basil's dynasty was from there, thus named Macedonian.

[@JC-mx9su]

more unfinished episode parts in the next videos such as: Rise of Caesar Augustus #6 Prince Eugene of Savoy #5 Hannibal #20 The Anarchy #4 Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer #5

[@JC-mx9su]

@Iamnotracistlmao I think they haven’t finish the Prince Eugene of Savoy episode and they are still 3 parts that he hasn’t uploaded it and I saw it on the first part such as: Battle of Blenheim August 13, 1704 Battle of Petrovaradin August 5, 1716 Siege of Belgrade July 18, 1717

[@matts7125]

I know it’s a good day when history Marche puts out a video from antiquity or the medieval age

[@Integurs]

The epithet of basil II is cool

[@caalidiyd]

Nikulitsa, the man, the myth, the legend

[@thesupertaco1934]

Basils exploites in Iberia/Georga Was something like the campaigns of old deafting great kings similar to that of antiochus the 3rd and mithradaties

[@coyotebongwater8986]

Please continue the series on Hannibal and the second Punic war

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Super wonderful historical coverage video about military clashing between Bulgars 🇧🇬 and Byzantium empire from 997 to 1002 AD ...allot thanks for an excellent ( History Marche) channel for sharing this remarkable historical coverage video

[@fonthracian7042]

@HistoryMarch This is Bulgaria and BULGARIAN HISTORY!

[@debasishgoswami9896]

It's Eastern Roman History/ Greek history, Kiddo🗿🍸🍸

[@smefour]

Eastern Roman, Macedonian, Greek, Bulgarian History

[@SolidAvenger1290]

Skopje nullified the gains of the success in Adrianople by Bulgaria and brought further territorial losses to the Bulgarians and gains to the Byzantines. Over the next decade, hostilities continued but not with the intensity of the previous years. However, the later battle at Kleidion would see the great climax of the war between Samuel & Basil II.

[@lgnd-lm6ug]

To avoid further misunderstanding, this is about the geographical region of Macedonia of which nowadays North Macedonia is only a part of. HistoryMarche, you're treading on dangerous grounds here 😄

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

It is true though. The region of Macedonia was expanded by Philip, Alexander and especially the Antigonid dynasty who conquered the Paeonians. When the Romans conquered Greece, "Macedonia prima" corresponded to modern Greek Macedonia and "Macedonia Secunda" to modern Vardaska.

[@БориславВълков-м7р]

Yep, I as a bulgarian hate it when "civilized" people do not adhere to the political correctness principles. How are they thinking that they are wining an argument if they haven't proven us wrong, but have repeatedly used "facts" that we have proven are incorrectly used? Cancel culture is one heck of a pain in the ***, no wonder the Pope says it goes out of control.

[@odalv316]

The Bulgarians in denial.

[@БориславВълков-м7р]

@@odalv316 you do reallize you are proving my point?

[@odalv316]

@user-qg9fz5xm4b That modern-day N. Macedonian are Bulgarians in denial?

[@antoinejds6970]

Thanks for this vidéos Basil with Heraclius Alexis comnenne and Justinian are the greatest ruler of byzantine empire

[@wedgeantillies66]

Slow and steady reconquer of Macedonia as he whittled down the territory of Bulgaria to less than a third of its previous size. With their Tsar unable to do very little, in response, but sit on the defensive or get best in battle. Showed that Basil was in the driving seat and was only a question if when the Byzantines would win the war.

[@Roranlogic]

Please make a Video on the battle of Sindh 711 CE

[@majorianus8055]

Commenting for algorithm. Keep it up with these Byzantine content!

[@legalna2rp]

Nice.

[@sourabhmayekar3354]

Nice

[@bartmazur5448]

super cool

[@ylelouchnetero2420]

Please make the series on Hannibal comeback🙏

[@zshivkonezshivkov380]

You labeled Samuel as part of the Krum dynasty. He wasn't, or at least we have no evidence he was. Bulgarian historiography usually places him as a part of the Comitopuli dynasty(meaning sons of the Comit, a bulgarian administrative title). We know he was son of a powerful bulgarian comit called Nikola.

[@milenpetev811]

"Comitopul" is not a family dynasty, a state post. Governor of a province in Byzantium and Bulgaria.

[@zshivkonezshivkov380]

@@milenpetev811 There is no proper evidence for the name of Samuil's dynasty. It's called "Comitopuli" in the bulgarian historiography because he and his historically important brothers were sons of a powerful bulgarian "comit" aka governor called Nikola. There is no evidence that Nikola was an heir to the Krum dynasty. The only thing known about Nikola besides being a powerful governor in the western part of the Bulgarian Empire was that he married an armenian woman, which explains the names of Nikola's sons, which are unusually biblical.

[@Black-Fish]

Yay one of the early ones

[@crazyhercules9442]

The Empire Strikes Back!

[@SGT51]

Small correction , Duklja was not serbian but a great video as always

[@tylerellis9097]

That’s cope,every modern academic and medieval source like the chronicle of Duklja considers it Serbian. It’s leader literally had the title Prince of the Serbs from the Byzantines.

[@SGT51]

@@tylerellis9097 that is simply not true , Duklja (modern day montenegro) and Raška (modern day serbia) fought against each other in 1042 , so calling them the same people is not right

[@tylerellis9097]

@@SGT51 And the Despot of Epirus, Trebizond and Nicaea all fought each other despite being Byzantine. The Despot of Dobruja, Lovech and Vidin all fought each other despite being Bulgarian. That doesn’t help your case at all. And you act like a significant number of Montenegrins don’t still identify as Serbs, 30% of the country. Facts are is during the time of this vid both were seen as Serb Principalities.

[@SGT51]

Just because 30% of the people identify as serbs doesn't mean montenegro and its history should be forgot like that, and those 30% moved in Montenegro as imigrants from the yugoslav wars to seek refuge , so your point makes no sense

[@mfulan7548]

Sources where?

[@lerneanlion]

After the Romans successfully conquered all of Bulgaria, will we get to see what lives are like for the Bulgarians when they were living as citizens of the Roman Empire?

[@andromeda-p8b]

They never really conquered all of Bulgaria. The bulgarians were threated with respect. The bulgarian church - the Ohrid Archbishop was lowered in rank but its church lands were stilled called bulgarian and bulgarian priests rules the church regions.

[@bcvetkov8534]

Love Basil II. Absolute legend. House of Macedon conquers all 😂.

[@odalv316]

Eii Make..

[@Cba409]

Next episode pls

[@aleksk4151]

KRAKRA of Pernik turned out Stronger than Basil ! twice defeated him with heavy casualties and Basil only got the fortress through diplomatic seduction. Greatest warrior Krakraaaaaa 💪

[@hopeundertheblacksun]

Great warrior. Unfortunately 1014.

[@wankawanka3053]

Did he? Why can't I find his state anywhere during the reign of Basil II then if he was stronger? The fact that he got it diplomatically is proof that Krakra knew he couldn't do this forever ;)

[@MrCassowary]

Basil was the greatest Byzantine emperor.

[@florinsima2911]

Basil II!💪

[@Oddrock-n5i]

praise be unto the algorithm

[@mariusmihale]

I keep seeing Slon on the map, in what would be modern day Romania. Is that supposed to be an inside joke of the creators of the video? Because that's currently a really small village and I have never heard of anything important ever happening there in Medieval times. In fact I had never heard about it until today, as I had to google to see what's up.

[@NikeBG]

The area of Slon, as its name suggests, was a notable salt-extracting centre during the times of the FBE. Settlements and regions can be great at one point and then lose their importance later on - Pliska and Preslav, the first two capitals of the FBE, were also great once, but are mere ruins near small villages of the same names today.

[@explorer1968]

And the moniker Boulgaroktonos was about to be won shortly after…

[@ivanvasilev1618]

ok why all macedonias claim to samuel be a macedonian while there is not macedonia on the map 😂

[@stanbatakarata6081]

Tito propaganda .

[@johnchen3599]

Bugatoctonos in Greek I may be wrong

[@SrJomba]

Bulgaroktónos

[@johnchen3599]

I said I may be wrong Bugaroctonos is without the accent Bugaroktónos

[@houndofzoltan]

It's not "10 years ago", it's ten years before. At the time of writing ten years ago was 2013.

[@yo.p.355]

Merci !

[@HistoryMarche]

Thank you so much for supporting my work. Very kind of you.

[@hm94goal]

it's not Jabala!...it's Jablah. my beloved hometown.

[@georgezachos7322]

I am semi-glad to see that ERE history affects so many people in so many ways. It's rather endearing, in all the wrong ways. What a sh@tshow...

[@jcremeringful]

A sacrifice to the algorithm