Byzantine Emperor Basil II: Interpretations in the Greek and Bulgarian National Narrative

Византийският император Василий II: наблюдения върху някои интерпретации в гръцкия и българския национален разказ

Исторически преглед, 82 (2026) No. 1, pp. 5-30 (ISSN 0323-9748)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71069/IPR1.26.SF01

Stamatia Fotiadou / Стаматия Фотиаду

Postdoctoral Researcher - Institute of Balkan Studies & Center of Thracology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
ORCID: 0000-0003-4516-5653

Abstract: This article examines the figure of Byzantine Emperor Basil II and his contrasting representations within Greek and Bulgarian national narratives. Focusing on his reign (976–1025) and the prolonged conflicts with the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel, culminating in the decisive Battle of Kleidion (1014), the study analyzes how Basil II’s image is symbolically appropriated to serve distinct ideological functions. While Greek historiography frames him as a ruler defending imperial legitimacy, the Bulgarian narrative portrays him as a ruthless conqueror. Rather than offering an exhaustive survey, the article traces the key domains in which this image is formed and reconfigured, each serving as a link to the others. By bringing into dialogue historiography, literature, and visual and cultural artifacts, it foregrounds the most visible aspects of the image-making of Basil II and identifies the cultural factors and historical conditions that shape its reception in both national traditions. Ultimately, the study sheds light on the mechanisms through which historical figures become emblematic symbols of national identity. By tracing the transformations of Basil II’s image over time and across cultures, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of how historical narratives shape and reflect competing national memories.

Keywords: national narrative, Samuel, collective memory, historical interpretation.

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