The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
Basil II
Also known as Basil the Second, Basil the Bulgar-Slayer, Basil the Slayer of the Bulgarians
- Supporting
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 214
There's something austere and compelling about this emperor whose very appearance suggests the tension between worldly power and spiritual devotion. The monastic habit beneath his armor creates an unsettling reminder of vows that transcend imperial authority. You sense a ruler whose personal discipline shapes his approach to governance and conquest.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Child (5 years at father's death)
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 214
- Books
- 1
Basil II ascended to power as one of the two sons left by Romanus II, assuming the throne at the tender age of five. His decision to wear monastic habit beneath his robes and armor reflected a personal vow of continence that would define his reign, while his abstention from wine and flesh demonstrated the ascetic discipline that marked his character. As emperor, his renowned avarice led him to bury 200,000 pounds of gold in palace vaults rather than pay his armies, while his conquest of the Bulgarians would earn him the epithet Bulgar-Slayer for the cruelty he displayed toward his captives.
Description
A Byzantine emperor whose striking appearance combines imperial authority with monastic austerity, wearing simple monastic habit beneath his armor and robes. His features suggest both the discipline of his personal vows and the weight of his imperial responsibilities. Rich imperial garments partially conceal the simpler clothing beneath, creating a visual reminder of the spiritual commitments that shaped his approach to power.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
Meet Basil II in Bookworm
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