Basil II: The Bulgar Slayer

The “Dark Ages” are good times when you take a peek at History; the Era following the fall of the Roman Empire has often been described as bleak, gloomy, depressing, and dull – but I am here to tell you that is not so! I mean, who needs the Romans? Right? After the fall of the Roman Empire… well, that is when things started to get interesting in Europe.

This Era marked the emergence of the early “Medieval” civilizations, and the wonderful Muslims, Byzantines, and Barbarians we all know and love. You had the Muslims in the Islamic East, then the Byzantines in the Roman East, and the Germanic kingdoms in the “Barbarian” realms of the West (the later countries of France, England and Germany). You had wonderful characters like Clovis, Pepin, Charlemagne, Edward “Longshanks,” and even Genghis Khan. For a moment we’ll take a look at one of my favorites, Basil II. He was a mean little guy. And extremely violent. And perhaps not coddled enough as a child. You will see what I mean.

BASIL II was born in 958AD. His father, Basil I, had risen through the ranks of the Byzantine military and was a “companion” to the Emperor, Michael III. Dark times, yes – Basil I would repay his friend and mentor by murdering him in his sleep. He also murdered Michael III’s uncle, a man who would have been Emperor, but was instead called “The Drunkard.” Basil I secured the throne for himself and there is some hazy history that he also murdered Basill II’s brother by having him blinded. Nice, huh?

BASIL II came to full power in 976 at the age of 18. His first problem was to take care of the men who had ruled in his stead (his father had died when Basil II was only 5) – and Basil undertook to dispose of them quickly. Well… maybe not so quickly. One man was beheaded, and his head was spiked; another was thrown from a window; and yet another was “blinded” and died from his wounds. We’ll get to the “blinding” part here in a minute. It was an act Basil II seemed to prefer.

After assuming total power, Basil’s most pressing problem was that of the Bulgarian Empire. This is a region that includes modern-day Croatia and Serbia. The “Bulgars” were land-hungry and they were at constant war with they Byzantines. Their king, Samuel, had actually been able to use Basil’s own men against him – having captured soldiers at the Battle of Trajan, he offered the Byzantine men the choice of enlistment… or a slow death by starvation. Choosing to side with Samuel (and also getting dinner) was not something Basil II would easily forgive or forget.

You see, BASIL II would make it his goal to completely destroy the Bulgars. He went about seiging towns and destroying the countryside, killing thousands of Bulgar people and offering them no quarter. His title as “Bulgar Slayer” is perhaps well-deserved. And at the Battle of Kleidon, Basil would succeed in destroying the Bulgar King by maiming his entire army.

This is an interesting battle in history, not so much for the battle itself (you had the mountains, the dried mud fields, and wooden fortifications) but for the battle’s aftermath. Basil II would have the Bulgar army rounded up, and out of nearly 10,000 men he divided them into small groups. These divisions of 100 men were huddled around a fire – and 99 of 100 would be purposely blinded. Only one man would escape unharmed, and this was only because he served to guide the blinded men home, where the Bulgar King (Samuel) might realize what had been done to them. Samel was so horrified by this maiming he would suffer a stroke and die within days.

And it was horrifying, yes. The practice of “blinding” involved a white-hot iron poker that was pressed toward a person’s eyes. And the eyes would then melt from the bone sockets. Very unpleasant, to be sure. And ruthless, as well. Most of the soldiers who had been blinded would die from their wounds. Our friend, Basil II, the “Bulgar-Slayer,” would earn his nickname. As well as a very brutal reputation.

The Byzantines were not again troubled by the Bulgars, and as Basil II’s rule strengthened, the spread of Christianity moved through Bulgar lands and stretched as far as early Russia. The “Dark Ages” would come to a close not long after Basil II’s death (1025AD) and the Byzantine Empire would decline through the 1100’s. Interesting stuff with the battles against the Seljuk Turks and the later Crusades, but for now you have a glimpse of a king named Basil, and a bit of background of a forgotten-time way back long ago. Some people have argued that Basil’s actions were evil, but I would say they were a familiar part of war, and perhaps a pratice Basil II had become accustomed to. He was not a great guy, but these were Dark Times, right? Mmm Hmm. I’ll leave you to ponder on that. It’s what makes History so much fun.