Battle of Spercheios, 997 ⚔️ How to wage war on two fronts ⚔️ Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer (Part 3) 

Hey guys! No Live premiere today. My father had a life-threatening medical emergency and the past week has been a sleepless and stressful time. But I promise to give you guys a Live Premiere next weekend. I hope you will enjoy Basil Part 3.

Wow, its incredible that the tide of battle can turn that quickly. You would think to have your guard up and not get speared before the fighting is over.

Basil II, as all the great leaders in History, had the important ability to choose the right collaborators. His staff included some brilliant military minds like Nikephoros Ouranos, who won the Battle of Spercheios, while the Basileus was in the meantime in Syria.

Basil II was a notable Emperor and a worthy sucessor of Augustus who left a lasting impact on the history of the Roman Empire. His military victories, internal reforms, and efficient governance secured his position as one of the Roman Empire's most prominent leaders and contributed to the stability and prosperity of the empire during his reign.

It fascinates me that a general could be so stupid in not having a group of bodyguards during a battle and how fast the retreating army was able to find out the emeny general is dead and then do a 180 and win.

If I wrote about a officer and his sons riding out to kill the enemy commander and turning the tide of a lost battle after the army had fled and only a small contingent resisted,people would call me a madman…

I have been waiting long for another Basil episode! That man was a machine when it came to restoring the empire!

Please more Basil episodes! You guys do such a great job with telling history, I look forward to what happens next

I think Basil II is the best eastern roman emperor ever. Inherited an empire in civil war and being invaded by 2 fronts, and left it in double in size and the hegemon of the mediterranean

"Can you stop triggering ambushes while I am gone?"- Basil II

A heartfelt thank you for your outstanding work. The professional quality of your videos is consistently improving, and that hasn't escaped my notice. Your commitment to engaging and clear historical storytelling is admirable. Keep up the fantastic work!😀

Happy to see that the story of Basil II is getting known far and wide!

You've done an awesome job with this series, I'm really enjoying learning about Basil II and this time period! Looking forward to the next video!

A nice touch of the Byzantine Empire named on the map as the Roman Empire as the people living there called themselves Romans (Rhomaioi) because they're basically the continuation of Roman Legacy.

If just the Bulgarians and Byzantines stoped fighting for more than 400 years and become ally, protect their flangs, made trade and economic progress between each other the destine of the two empires would be different.

I love the series on Basil II, easily one of the best Eastern Roman emperors.

Basil II was arguably the greatest emperor of the Macedonian Dynasty. He was also arguably the one most responsible for its fall. His failure to produce or designate a successor doomed the Empire to that favorite of Roman pastimes: bloody and destructive civil war.

8:58 they actually briefly mention Tyre's revolt in Lebanese history textbooks when discussing the Fatimid rule over Lebanon

Another great video, HM! Also, wish your father a speedy recovery.

What an embarrassing defeat. Crazy how much the life of the commander matters

Fantastic as always. Thank you for your hard work. David McCallion is very talented!

Idk if it's possible but I think it would be cool if you also added a brief view of the armor and weapons used by the respected nation at the talked about time period and battle

The number of lovely red and purple squares being destroyed because of arrogance and lack of discipline is truly infuriating.

This is the first time that a video referred to the use of mules by mounted troops. Using mules actually makes sense. They have more stanima(sp) than horses, and require less feed. Their only real down side is that they are sterile.

Can we take a moment to admire how people of old named cities? Some of these cities sound so much cooler than many of the city names we come up in more modern times.

Basil’s a great example of the proverb “if you want something done right...” but Gregory was a failure of his choice in an appointments. Anyway, I am a huge fan of impeccably executed marches. Incredibly fast long distance marches that don’t result in mutiny or a blown out army are always epic and rightfully seen as massive accomplishments.

Bulgarian history very good 🇦🇿❤🇧🇬

I love how by the time of Basil Greek surname system has fully evolved with family names continuing to this day.

Really, it was an informadible introduction episode about Byzantine struggle for protecting its Sovereigns during Bassel II rule..against Bulgarian and Fattimate Caliphate at 964 AD ....thank you respectful 🙏 ( history Marche)channel for sharing..

How long will we have to wait for the next one? Love the series btw.

The only bad thing about Basil II was that the Byzantines had small provinces with garison troops called the Themata and it combine millitary and civil administration before Basil the II there was 31 Thematas but after Basil it was 58 Thematas and he focused more on the field army instead of the garrison troops who were now streched thin

It would not be long as the roman emperor will slap the wrong bulgarian noble resuming the restoration on the bulgar empire and his brother Kaloyan will become the Romeoktone , roman slayer , and latin slayer also 😅

Good video about a story I had never heard of before. Well Done.

Ah Basil the Bulgar Slayer. Nice to see Part 3.

Sir . Your videos provide and explain many historical events and give good knowledge about it. So here is my kind request to you to make an video on Gupta empire of india who repelled huns invasion and defeated them. i ask you this because most people only know about huns invasion of Europe with their Victories and defeats but they don't know properly about their invasion of indian subcontinent. I Hope you will listen to my kind request and will put some light on this fading history. Thank you

After this war is done, will a video about how the lives of the peoples who resided in the Theme of Bulgaria will looked like? After all, they just got conquered and absorbed into the Roman Empire.

May God bless you and your family. Hope your father recovers. And as suggestion please consider doing a video on James the Conqueror of Aragón

Love your content never stop!

Good generalship and discipline seem to be two things that do set classical period roman and „byzantine“ armies apart

Is it true that you haven't done the Battle of Bosworth yet?? I'd love to see that one!

Another excellent work! ❤

I've been waiting weeks for this to come out! Thanks @HistoryMarche

Good work. How many episodes there are with Basil II?

Fantastic work! ⚔🔥🙌

Imagin how happy Basil would be if you where one of his nobles, or even one of his sons, and you actually compotent? It seems he just had a bunch of buffoons surrounding him, and had to do everything himself. If you could have crushed the Fatimids without Basil having to come all the way across the Empire, he probably would have made you crown prince immediately.

Nice video mate! Love the videos about Ottoman Expansions into ballans

The Basil series has featured more defeats than victories, in the old and tried Byzantine tradition XD

The Leader should have been with his army in keeping their moral up and encouraging them and not stayed back on the other side of the river. And even if he wasn't killed , history is littered with battles where chased fleeing enemies stop, quickly regroup and turn around charging from an advantagious position at those chasing them.

HBO should make a historical drama series for the Byzantine Empire like they did for Rome.

Let's hope part 4 comes out soon

Thank you. Great content.

I've been waiting for this episode, glad it's here 😊😊

Go look up the ruins of Apamea. Just truly crazy cool stuff!

Basil II is such a curious character and yet some of his policies with his family helped lead to the end of his dynasty. So I'd say he's the best n worst of the Macedonian Dynasty.

These are excellent presentations.

Finally!😭 Been waiting for this for months.. thank you🥺

So many times in history it would appear that mediocre to weak generals had to be appointed to prevent someone getting strong enough to challenge the ultimate leadership. That yes-man culture remains in business and politics to this day.

Your videos never stop beign Amazing! When things are better with your father can you please cosider doing a video on Abd al-Rahman? The father of muslim Spain, his life is really fascinating and the battles epic!

Oh man I love basil! Too bad capressi season is over 😢

This emperor must not have had much sleep in his life.

OMG, a Kurdish officer changing the tide of the war is very surprising to me, considering our small population. I don't know what to say, but I'm so surprised that I've never heard about my nation being mentioned before. Thank you for the video; please keep up the good work.

Excellent series.

Excellent video 📹 1 person changes a battle outcome

Amazing two battles in one video

I kinda feel like i heard this story a few times, a great general being successful in a campaign only to then fight on another fron and by the time he defended it and wanted to start a campaign against them his man on the other front a incapable of defending their position and he needs to abandon the campaign and travel back I swear i heard stories lile this so many times by now XD

I hope your father is okay and recovers fast for you and your family.

THANKS HM FOR THE VIDEO GREAT WORK KEEP IT UP

I like it how according to communist's fiction Macedonian History (FYROM) Samuel was a Macedonian emperor. Which is funny because Basil II was from the Macedonian dynasty. Of course neither Basil II nor Samuel considered themselves "Macedonian" and what is even more funny is that when Basil II finally conquered the last remaining parts of Bulgaria (the western part where Macedonia is) he called the new Byzantine Theme there "Bulgaria" LOL. Not to mention that if would be ironic to fight decades of war against the supposedly Macedonian kingdom and then be called "Bulgar-slayer". But yet - facts are not the strongest point in the newly invented Macedonian "History"

May I ask why did you stop the Hannibal series? It was really good.

Good videos as always

Wish your father get well soon. Health and happiness to everyone!!!!

Basil playing whack-a-mole with his generals who are busy snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

The last of the greatest Roman emperors!!!

I recommend the battle of Durbe OR Raseiniai because those are easy... OR Rossbach

Wait until they meet his brother, Oregano III, and their father Thyme!

Wishing your father a quick recovery.

I am Bulgarian and I like Basil II Porphyrogenitus. He deserves all respect as very smart leader. He started being called Bylgaroktonos (Bulgar slayer)by Byzantine chronists 200 years after his death for propaganda reasons. The Bulgarian kingdom was restored by then and was advancing in Byzantia. They needed to lift their spirits and wrote about the battle of Cleydon-Kluch. Also, that propaganda nickname was used wildly during the Balkan wars and the First World War. Allies liked it and spread it. Basil II was a very dignified man he called the conquered province Bulgaria . He kept that name. He downgraded the Bulgarian Patriarchate to the archbishopric but kept the name Bulgarian. He also used Bulgarian clergy to baptize Kievan Rus . They preached in Slavic Bulgarian and had the bible translated into Bulgarian. Much easier if they tried to use Greek. This great strategist, diplomate and administrator always used all his potential with perfect timing. Such a gifted man.He did when conquered the First Kingdom of Bulgaria. Even after the battle of Cleidon Bulgaria was very powerful. After Samuel's death his son Gavril Radomir became king Few years later Gavril Radomir was killed by his cousin Ivan Vladislav. The Bulgarian kingdom stood strong and growing. After Cleidon expanded in North fully conquering Serbia. Ivan Vladislav was killed during his siege of Dures on Adriatic cost. The heir was a minor 5-6 years old. And there was another heir from his cousin in Hungary (Gavril Radomir son of Hungarian princes) . Basil II rushed from the other end of the Empire and bribed all Regents to be. They accepted his suzerainty. They preferred money and peace under Basil II to civil war. That was the end of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Another interesting fact is that Basil II and Samuel of Bulgaria both were of Armenian origin. No Byzantine Emperor-born Porphyrogenitus would like to be called another way. Basil II was much more civilized than modern chauvinists and nationalists. In Byzantine Empire blinded those who were considered Byzantian rebels. So he considered Bulgarians and treated them as rebels who separated from the Byzantine Empire.That gave him so much room to maneuver in negotiations with Bulgarian counts. Later, He acted as they returned to the Empire. He used all means political and military to win. How smart? I do not like when he is presented only as a ruthless butcher, slayer, and only military man. His personality was much richer than that. It is 100 years after the First World War. If he was only a butcher he would be as great as Pol Pot or Sadam Husein or Gadafi.

12:15 This reminded me when Islamic state attacked syria and iraq, all syrian and iraqi troops fled. Meanwhile the Kurds fought for their land. Shows the bravery of the kurds.

Well that happens when you leave the general unprotected

Incredible video , very Amazing 🎉🎉🎉❤

Best series since those bangers about Hannibal

Basil looked like santa!

I love that part when Basil told the Bulgars his hands were rated E for Everyone and then gouged out their eyes.

Is it just me that sees the hand of the "Roman Barbarian Affaires Department" at work in the fires of Cairos?

The more Eastern Roman content the better!

It’s a goood day to be alive another eastern Roman vid helllll yeeea

Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch!

Basil, one of my favorite emperors and favorite of spices

Great video... BUT! We need more! xD

The name of the Emperor is VASILIOS not Basil.He was Greek and he had a beautiful Greek name please do not destroy it.

Bagrations would smash out easily to bulgarians and outsmart, misstake here is that gregory never been bagration

That Kurdish officer got some balls

There is a minor mistake made in the video, as Samuel is depicted to be of the Krum dynasty, though he was actually of the Kometopuli dynasty

You made my Google home page! Excellent work!

"In this respect, it is noteworthy that early-medieval written evidence from the Bulgar realm testifies to a Bulgar preference to the ethnonym Graikos (Greek), instead of Rhomaios (Roman), by the designation of the Eastern Romans." Yannis Stouraitis, pp 130, "Byzantine Romanness: From geopolitical to ethnic conceptions: Early Medieval Regions and Identities"

This music... I swear I've heard it on the Bedtime stories channel... great choice!

Thanks for uploading

It's sad to see how Byzantines lost the last war.

What was he thinking ? Man went and accepted "PEACE" when Bulgaria was virtually defenceless.. Bad bad decision, as his general told Hannibal, you are great at winning a battle but horrible when using it.

seeing this... how can one not think that the romans were back in business? they were making the world tremble once more at the sight of their armies. all because of one dedicated soldier-emperor. and how those fools that came after him destroyed it all.