1025-2025: The Afterlife of the Bulgarslayer (East Roman Historiography III)

Описание: December 15th, 1025, Roman Emperor Basileios II passed away, and on December 15th 2025, one full millennium later, we review how historiography, from medieval Roman to modern European, remembered this extraordinary basileus and his legendary legacy.

In this video, we trace the full evolution of how the Romans and the world viewed the history, the story, and the legend of Basileios II, and how he became the "Boulgaroktonos" (Bulgarslayer) which everyone knows him as today. We examine the primary sources, from the Epitaph of Basileios on his sarcophagus, to medieval Roman writers like Michael Psellos, Ioannes Skylitzes, Anna Komnene, Konstantinos Manasses, Niketas Choniates, Georgios Pachymeres... among many others, to some classic more modern historical works covering him, like Byzantinist Gustave Schlumberger, and finally the Bulgarslayer in two iconic pieces of Modern Greek literature.

Of special focus is the treatment on Basileios II and the whole Macedonian Dynasty by Joseph Lazaropoulos, mid 14th century Metropolitan of Trebizond. This was my original video topic before I decided to look at everyone else too, a small sample of how the Trapezuntines viewed the Emperor who promoted the Komnenian Dynasty which governed them.

Phase 1: Up until 1025 (Contemporary sources and self-perception)
Phase 2: 1025 - 1080 (Immediate post mortem, Late Macedonian and Doukid historiography)
Phase 3: 1080 - 1185 (Komnenian historiography, origins of the idolization and fixation)
Phase 4: 1186 - Fall of the Empire (The Birth of the Bulgarslayer Legend)
Phase 5: Modern ideas and appropriations

If you want more tribute to the Bulgarslayer, ‪@EasternRomanHistory‬ is doing a mega stream on December 15th with multiple excellent channels to look at all aspects of Basileios II's life and reign. I will be on primarily to discuss the Eastern side: Basileios with the Fatimids, Buyids, the Georgians, Armenians... much overlooked side of the man whose main accomplishment is now associated with the Balkans now. Catch you there! https://www.youtube.com/live/UoaNa6eO...

My OG history video:    • Basileios Boulgaroktonos: Based Byzantine ...  

Primary Sources:
Histoire de Yahya-Ibn-Said dAntioche, fast. 5, ed. and tr. I. Kratchkovsky and A. Vasiliev, Patrologia Orientalis 18 (Paris, 1924) fast. 2, ed. and tr. I. Kratchkovsky and A. Vasiliev, Patrologia Orientalis 23 (Paris, 1932); fasc. 4, ed. I. Kratchkovsky, tr. F. Micheau and G. Tropeau, Patrologia Orientalis 47 (Turnhout, 1997)
Étienne Açogh’ig de Daron, Histoire universelle, traduction E. Dulaurier, 1883
Chronographia of Michael Psellos, translated by E. R. A. Sewter
Cecaumeni Strategicon, eds. B. Wassiliewsky and P. Jernstedt (St. Petersburg, 1896)
Théophylacte d'Achrida,I, discours, traités, poésies, ed. and tr. P. Gautier, CFHB 16/1 (Thessaloniki, 1980) Théophylacte d'Achrida, II, lettres, ed. and tr. P. Gautier, CFHB 16/2 (Thessaloniki, 1986)
Ioannes Skylitzes, Synopsis Historion, translated by John Wortley
loannis Zonarae epitome historiarum, eds. M. Pinder and T. Buttner-Wobst, 3 vols., CSHB (Bonn, 1841-97)
The Alexiad, by Anna Komnene (Elizabeth Dawes translation)
Theodoros Prodromos, historische Gedichte, ed. W. Horandner (Vienna, 1974)
Mango, C., "The conciliar edict of 1166," DOP 17 (1963)
Konstantinos Manasses, Compendium chronicum (ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΝΑΣΣΗ ΣΥΝΟΨΙΣ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΗ, ΑΡΚΟΜΕΝΗ ΑΠΟ ΚΟΣΜΟΠΟΙΙΑΣ ΜΕΧΡΙ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΒΟΤΑΝΕΙΑΤΟΥ)
loannis Tzetzae historiae, ed. P. M. Leone (Naples, 1968)
The Annals of Niketas Choniates, translated by Harry J. Magoulias
Description of the Church of the Holy Apostles by Nikolaos Mesarites, translated by Michael Angold
Michaelis Choniatae epistulae, ed. F. Kolovou, CFHB 41 (Berlin and New York, zoos)
The History of George Akropolites, translated by Ruth Macrides
Georgios Pachymeres, translated by Albert Failler (GEORGES PACHYMÉRÊS RELATIONS HISTORIQUES)
Nicephori Gregorae Byzantina historia, eds. B. Niebuhr and L. Schopen, 3 vols., CSHB (Bonn, 1829-55)
Ephraem Aenii historia chronica, ed. O. Lampsides, CFHB 27 (Athens, 1990)
The Hagiographic Dossier of Saint Eugenius of Trebizond in Codex Athous Dionysiou 154 edited by J. O. Rosenqvist
Konstantinos Paparrigopoulos, Istoria Ellinkou Ethnous vol.4
Gustave Schlumberger, L'épopie byzantine a la fin du dixième siècle. I. Jean Tzimiscès; les jeunes années de Basile II, Ie tueur de Bulgares (969-989) (Paris, 1896); II. Basile II Ie tueur de Bulgares (Paris, 1900)
The King's Flute by Kostis Palamas
τον Kαιρό του Βουλγαροκτόνου by Penelop Delta

Secondary Source:
Paul Stephenson, The Legend of Basil the Bulgarslayer

Music:
Multiple Basileios themed sections in ‪@faryafaraji‬ and ‪@SkaldBard‬ 's Epic Symphony The Varangian's Sage    • The Varangian's Saga - Epic Symphony feat....  

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