Emperor Basileios II Boulgaroktonos M X / E XI
κυροῦ Βασιλείου باسيل الملك (BBÖ I.18) (Basileios 2)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(44)
Before 1025
Unassigned Activities
Authorship
(null)
Death
(9)
Described as dead in document by
Alexios 11
of January 1028
τοῦ ἐν τῇ μακαρίᾳ τῇ λήξει αὐταδέλφου αὐτοῦ. Alexios Stoudites Rhalles-Potles 5.29
Died after a reign of 20 years
Date: on December 1 ????????? ? ? Kleinchroniken 158.5
Died after a reign of 50 years at the age of 77
Date: on December 13 of the 9th indiction in the year 65 ????????? ?? �, ??????????? ? �, ????? ,???? �ζήσας ἔτη οζ´. Kleinchroniken 165.8
Died at the age of 68 after a reign of 49 years and 11 months and was buried in vestments worth slightly more than 20 dinars
Date: Sunday, 12 Kanun al-Awwal 1337 (12 December 1025) ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? 1337 مات... وكان مدة ملكه تسعة وأربعون سنة وأحد عشر شهر وعمره يوميذ ثمان وستين سنة... وقُوّم ما كفّن بها نيّف وعشرين دينارًا. Yahya al-Antaki 480
Died old
γηραιὸς. Zonaras 17.10.1
Died when
Michael 61
was still an infant
ἐπὶ νηπίῳ μοι τετελύτηκεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.12
He died in extreme old age
ἐν βαθεῖ καὶ λιπαρῷ καὶ μακροχρόνῳ γήρᾳ. Manasses, Chronicle 5939
He died, and his brother
Konstantinos 8
succeeded him
Date: 1026 1026 . Anonymus Barensis 149
His death in the second year (?), by the obstruction of sins, brought the expedition against Sicily to an end, and all returned without success
Date: in the second year (?) in secundo anno . Annales Barenses 39-42
Description
(27)
If anyone enthusiastically recounted to
Zoe 1
the great deeds of her family, especially his, she was delighted and her spirits immediately lifted
εἰ δέ τις αὐτῇ κατὰ σπουδὴν τὰ τοῦ γένους διεξῄει καλὰ, καὶ μάλιστα ὁπόσα ὁ θεῖος Βασίλειος, ἠγάλλετό τε καὶ αὐτίκα μετέωρος ἦν τὴν ψυχήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 168.4-7
After his death
Konstantinos 8
took over the empire, which was very wealthy as he had many years in power, more than any other emperor, took control of many nations and brought their wealth to the palace
τὴν βασιλείαν παραλαβὼν πολλῶν χρημάτων ἀνάπλεω, ὁ ... Βασίλειος μακροὺς ἐπιβιώσας χρόνους τῷ κράτει ... ἐθνῶν τε πολλῶν ἐγκρατὴς γεγονὼς καὶ τὸν ἐκεῖθεν πλοῦτον εἰς τὰ βασίλεια εἰσενεγκών. Psellos: Chronographia VII 52.1-8
He made income greatly exceed expenditure and at his death left for
Konstantinos 8
treasures beyond counting
πολυπλασίους τε τὰς ἐπιγινομενας εἰσόδους τῶν ἀπογιγνομένων πεποιηκώς, τῶν ἐντεῦθεν ἀπιὼν θησαυροὺς ἀμυθήτους χρημάτων καταλελοίπει τῷ ἀδελφῷ Κωνσταντίνῳ. Psellos: Chronographia VII 52.8-11
His virtue and power the Turks suspected to be still preserved among the Romans
ὑπώπτευον γὰρ ἔτι παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις σῴζεσθαι τὴν ἐκείνων ἀρετήν τε καὶ δύναμιν. Bryennios 97.9-10
The money which he had stored up in the palace by great sweat and toil became the plaything of
Maria 64
,
Zoe 1
and
Theodora 1
, given and received as presents or channelled elsewhere: soon it was all used up and wasted
ἔνθεν ἃ πολλοῖς ἱδρῶσι καὶ πόνοις ὁ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις ἀπεθησαύριζε, ταῦτα εἰς ἰλαρὰν ἐκείναις προέκειτο παιδιάν· ... ὀλιγου χρόνου ἀνηλώθη πάντα καὶ διεφράρη. Psellos: Chronographia VI 63.1-5
Had past his youth; differed in character from
Konstantinos 8
... had always shown himself wakeful, intelligent and thoughtful
ἤστην δὲ ἄμφω ἤδη μὲν παρεληλακότε τὴν ἥβην, διαφόρω δὲ τὸ ἦθος· ὁ μὲν γὰρ Βασίλειος ... ἐγηγορὼς ἀεὶ καὶ σύννους ἐδείκνυτο καὶ πεφροντικώς. Psellos: Chronographia I 2.1-4
Older than
Konstantinos 8
ὁ μὲν γὰρ Βασίλειος, ὁ κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν πρεσβύτερος ... πρεσβύτερος αὐτῶν ὁ Βασίλειος. Psellos: Chronographia I 2.2-3; 2.7
Was probably the emperor to whom
Manuel 119
entrusted his sons (
Isaakios 1
,
Ioannes 63
) and who was good and knew how to honour nobleness of mind
ἐπιεικής τε ὢν καὶ τιμᾶν εἰδὼς τὴν εὐγένειαν. Bryennios 75.14
Treated
Ioannes 68
[unnamed] with great familiarity and shared secrets with him; while he did not elevate him to magnificent offices he had a most genuine regard for him
τούτῳ δὴ καὶ Βασίλειος ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ οἰκειότατά τε ἐχρῆτο, καὶ ἐκοινώνει τῶν ἀπορρήτων, εἰς ὑπερηφάνους μὲν οὐκ ἀναβιβάσας ἀρχάς, γνησιώτατα δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν διακείμενος. Psellos: Chronographia III 18.7-10
He shone out among monarchs
Βασιλείου ἐκείνου τοῦ ἐν αὐτοκράτορσι λάμψαντος. Psellos: Chronographia IV 39.3-4
He who shone out beyond all emperors, treasure and benefit to the Roman realm
τὸν ὑπὲρ πάντας αὐτοκράτορας λάμψαντα, τὸ πολυτελὲς ἀγαθὸν χρῆμα τῇ ῾Ρωμαίων ἀρχῇ. Psellos: Chronographia V 22.8-9
Zoe 1
said she resembled him
ὅτι σοι καὶ τὴν θέαν εἶχον παρόμοιον. Psellos: Chronographia V 22.13
Konstantinos 9
was emperor for a longer time than those who ruled after him and did more than the others, some things better than they, others much worse
χρόνον τε γὰρ πλείω τῶν μετὰ τὸν Βασίλειον ἀρξάντων βεβασιλεύκει, καὶ πλεῖστα τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεπράχει, τὰ μὲν ἐκείνων κρείττονα, τὰ δὲ καὶ χείρω κατὰ πολύ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 14.5-8
He utterly terrified the Rus'
ὁ καταδειματῶν τούτους. Psellos: Chronographia VI 91.5
Isaakios 1
, when he had returned to the palace (from the hunting-lodge where he fell ill) felt easier and revelled in the time, talking like a provincial, joking more than usual, ..., talking of the past and the apt sayings of Basileos 002
... ἀρχαῖά τε διηγούμενος καὶ ὁπόσα ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκεῖνος Βασίλειος ὁ τοῦ ῾Ρωμανοῦ παῖς ἐπικαίρως ἐφθέγξατο. Psellos: Chronographia VII 76.1-7
The lives of the two brothers (Basileios and
Konstantinos 8
) differed totally in innumerable ways
οἱ βίοι γὰρ τοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἦσαν ἐκ διαμέτρου ἀλλήλων παραλλάττοντες ἀπειρομέτροις μέτροις. Manasses, Chronicle 5945-5946
Michael 61
took his material from others in speaking about him and
Konstantinos 8
περὶ ἐκείνων μὲν ἐξ ἑτέρων τὰς ἀφορμὰς εἰληφὼς εἴρηκα. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.17-18
Konstantinos 8
did not rage like his brother (
Basileios 2
)
οὐ κατὰ τὸν ἀδελφὸν δ᾿ ἐμηνία. Zonaras 17.10.5
The lord of blessed memory
ὁ μακαρίτης κύρις Βασίλειος. Kekaumenos 112.14-15
Lived and reigned for 72 years and sole emperor for 50. For the rest he ruled with his father (Emperor Romanos II), then with Phokas (Phokas 1) and after him with Tzimiskes (
Ioannes 1
)
Zonaras 17.9.36
His deeds are narrated in the Chronographia of
Michael 61
Χρονογραφία πονηθεῖσα τῷ ... Μιχαήλ, ἱστοροῦσα τὰς πράξεις τῶν βασιλέων, τοῦ τε Βασiλείου καὶ Κωνσταντίνου πορφυρογεννήτων. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 1-4
The anger of
Konstantinos 8
was not lasting like his
τὴν δὲ ὀργὴν οὐκ ἔμμονον εἶχεν, ὥσπερ ὁ ἀδελφὸς Βασίλειος. Psellos: Chronographia II 2.30-1
He had reigned for 50 years
ἐν ἔτεσι πεντήκοντα κρατήσαντα Ῥωμαίων. Manasses, Chronicle 5939a
Was moderate in his food, drink and clothing, eager to manage all the affairs of his empire, and although he found only 4 kentenaria of gold in the treasury when he ascended the throne, he left 6,000 when he died
ولم يزل ... مقتصرًا فى مطعمه ومشربه وزيه لازمًا الحميّة طول حياته ناظرًا بنفسه فى ساير أمور مملكته ما جلّ منه وصغر وخلّف من المال العين الصامت ستّة ألف قنطار وكان جميع ما وجده من المال حين احتوى على الملك أربع قناطير. Yahya al-Antaki 482
Felt affection and strong love for
Eudokia 101
,
Theodora 1
and
Zoe 1
, but took no more noble care for them; while guarding the power for his brother (
Konstantinos 8
) he put their care in his hands
ἠγάπα ... καὶ δεινῶς ἔστεργεν, οὐδὲν δέ τι γενναιότερον περὶ τούτων ἐφρόντισεν. Psellos: Chronographia II 4.10-13
Reigned for 49 years and 11 months
وكان مدة ملكه تسعة وأربعون سنة وأحد عشر شهر. Yahya al-Antaki 480
Rule of the empire would not otherwise have been piloted well under him and
Konstantinos 8
, had not the absolute administration been allocated to him, the first and sharpest
οὐδ’ ἂν ἄλλως ἡ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῖς ἀρχὴ διεκυβερνήθη, εἰ μὴ τῷ πρώτῳ καὶ ἀκριβεστάτῳ ἡ αὐτοκράτωρ ἀπεκληρώθη διοίκησις. Psellos: Chronographia I 2.9-11
Dignity/Office
(17)
Autokrator
τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος. Bryennios 89.24
αὐτοκράτορε. Psellos: Chronographia I 2.6-9
Basileus
βασιλέων. Iveron 2.85.11
βασιλεύς. Kekaumenos 84.21, 120.15, 204.1
τὰ Ῥωμαίων σκῆπτρα ἰθύνοντος. Bryennios 75.3
τοῦ βασιλέως. Zonaras 17.9.35
βασιλεὺς. Psellos: Chronographia II 1.3; 5.12
الملك. Yahya al-Antaki 480
βασιλεύς. Xenophontos 73.145
βασιλέως. Psellos Hypomnema 12
Emperor
imperator. Annales Barenses 53.41
imperator. Anonymus Barensis 149
Porphyrogennetos
πορφυρογεννήτων. Iveron 2.85.11, 2.85.13
πορφυρογεννήτου. Bryennios 97.7-8
ποφυρογέννητος. Kekaumenos 4.21, 112.15, 120.15, 202.29-30
πορφυρογέννητον. Zonaras 18.4.7
πορφυρογεννήτων. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 4
Education
(null)
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(null)
Kinship
(24)
brother of
Konstantinos 8
ἀδελφός. Skylitzes 370.20
αὐταδέλφου. Alexios Stoudites Rhalles-Potles 5.29
ἀδελφός. Glykas 459, 579.18
ἀδελφός. Kleinchroniken 141.61, 141.63, 158.7, 165.9
(ἀδελφὸν)` , (ἀδελφῷ). Psellos: Chronographia 2.9, 2.16; 2.13-14; etc.
(ἀδελφὸς). Psellos: Chronographia 52.3; 52.5; 52.11
ὁ σύγγονος. Zonaras 17.10.2
τὸν ἀδελφὸν. Zonaras 17.10.5
أخاه. Yahya al-Antaki 480
հարազատ. Aristakes 40.19 (26)
ἀδελφῷ. Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 159
frater. Anonymus Barensis 149
τοῖν ἀδελφοῖν. Manasses, Chronicle 5945
grandson of
Konstantinos 7
(جدّ). Yahya al-Antaki 486
son of
Romanos 2
(πατρός). Iveron 2.85.11
παῖδας. Psellos: Chronographia I 1.5
παῖδα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 52.2; 76.6
(τῷ πατρί). Zonaras 17.9.36
uncle of
Eudokia 101
θεῖος. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.12-13
uncle of
Theodora 1
θεῖος. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.12; 5.18
uncle of
Zoe 1
θεῖος. Psellos: Chronographia II 5.12; 5.18
θείου, θεῖε. Psellos: Chronographia V 22.7, 10
(ἀνεψιάν). Psellos: Chronographia 22.25
θεῖος. Psellos: Chronographia VI 168.6
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(14)
Ani
was handed the keys of the city of Ani τῆς πόλεως. Skylitzes 435.81
Athos: Klementos
granted to
Ioannes 162
the monastery of Klementos μονὴν τοῦ Κλήμεντος. Iveron 2.86.14-15
Athos: Xenophontos
granted the metochion of Hieromnemon, also called ta Bourbourou, together with its dependencies to the monastery of Xenophontos τῆ μονῆ. Xenophontos 73.146
Bulgaria
defeated in war Bulgaria τῶν δὲ Βουλγάρων. Zonaras 17.17.1
Constantinople: Hagios Ioannes at Hebdomon
requested to be buried in a tomb at the small monastery of Hagios Ioannes at Hebdomon القديس مارى يحنّا الانجيلى. Yahya al-Antaki 480
Constantinople: Holy Apostles
installed a sarcophagus for his sepulchre in the Holy Apostles كنيسة الابسطولين. Yahya al-Antaki 480
Hieromnemon (Longos)
granted to Xenophontos the monastery and dependencies of Hieromnemon (Longos) μοναστήριον λεγόμενον τῶν Ἱερομνήμων ἤτοι τὰ Βουρβουροῦ. Xenophontos 73.145
Iberia (theme)
campaigned against
Georgios 105
in Iberia (theme) ἐν Ἰβηρίᾳ. Skylitzes 435.78
Kolobou (Macedonia)
granted to
Ioannes 162
the monastery of Kolobou (Macedonia) μονὴν τοῦ Κολοβοῦ. Iveron 2.86.14
Moreia (Bulgaria)
besieged but failed to capture Moreia (Bulgaria) τὴν Μόρειαν. Kekaumenos 120.16
Sicily
planned to set out for Sicily Σικελίαν. Zonaras 17.9.33
Thessalonike: Leontia
granted to
Ioannes 162
the monastery of Leontia μονὴν τῆς Λεοντίας. Iveron 2.85.14
Vaspurakan
was handed over by
Senachereim 101
Vaspurakan اسفرجان. Yahya al-Antaki 484
Zagoria (Bulgaria)
captured 14,000 Bulgarians in the region of Zagoria (Bulgaria) τὸ δέμα τῶν Ζαγορίων. Kekaumenos 84.22-23
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(null)
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)