Basil II part 9
One would imagine he had never ascended the throne, but shared authority on equal terms with another man, or held inferior rank in the...
Basil II part 8
After he had galloped forward some distance from his own men, Phocas suddenly slipped from his saddle and was thrown to the ground. At...
Basil II part 7
14. Basil personally took part in these operations with the Roman army. He had just begun to grow a beard and was learning the...
Basil II part 6
The reason for this was that they feared Chosroes. They expected little consideration from him and they believed that he would throw them back...
Basil II part 5
The Revolt of Bardas Phocas
10. Meanwhile Bardas Phocas returned to the emperor. He was given the privilege of a triumph and took his place...
Basil II part 4
7. According to the historians, this man Bardas reminded people of his uncle, the emperor Nicephorus, for he was always wrapped in gloom, and...
Basil II part 3
The complete change in his mode of living dates from the attempted revolutions of the notorious Sclerus**4 and of Phocas.**5 Sclerus twice raised the...
Basil II part 2
Although he was born of the same father as the father of Basil and Constantine, on his mother’s side he came of different stock....
Basil II part 1
Basil II 976 – 1025
1. The circumstances in which the emperor John Tzimisces met his death have already been described (in the history of...
The Vampire part 4
Finally after several hours, when the distance was becoming over-spread with a darker violet, so magically beautiful in the south, the mother reminded us...
