The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer
The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer
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GBPThe reign of Basil II (976–1025), the longest of any Byzantine emperor, has long been considered as a 'golden age', in which his greatest achievement was the annexation of Bulgaria. This, we have been told, was achieved through a long and bloody war of attrition which won Basil the grisly epithet Voulgartoktonos, 'the Bulgar-slayer'. In this 2003 study Paul Stephenson argues that neither of these beliefs is true. Instead, Basil fought far more sporadically in the Balkans and his reputation as 'Bulgar-slayer' was created only a century and a half later. Thereafter the 'Bulgar-slayer' was periodically to play a galvanizing role for the Byzantines, returning to centre-stage as Greeks struggled to establish a modern nation state. As Byzantium was embraced as the Greek past by scholars and politicians, the 'Bulgar-slayer' became an icon in the struggle for Macedonia (1904–1908) and the Balkan Wars (1912–1913).
- A broadly based, accessible book which spans history, art history and literature in both the medieval and modern periods
- Addresses major issues in national history and nationalism in Byzantium and Greece through the ages
- Illustrated in colour and black-and-white with rare and unusual images
Reviews & endorsements
Review of the hardback: 'It is well written and has that strong sense of Byzantium's place in the Hellenic tradition.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History
Product details
November 2010Paperback
9780521158831
190 pages
229 × 152 × 11 mm
0.29kg
Available
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Table of Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface
- Annotated and translation
- List of abbreviations
- 1. Basil the Bulgar-slayer: an introduction
- 2. Basil and Samuel
- 3. Basil annexes Bulgaria
- 4. Victory and its representations
- 5. Basil the younger, porphyrogennetos
- 6. The origins of a legend
- 7. Basile après Byzance
- 8. Basil and the 'Macedonian question'
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index.
