Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Byzantinetimetraveller Like us on Facebook: No Budget Films: https://www.facebook.com/nobudgetfilms55 Byzantine Time Traveller: https://www.facebook.com/ByzantineTimeTraveller This video is a commentary of mine on Basil II (r. 976-1025), one of the most renowned Byzantine emperors both as a warrior and statesman. Basil II is possibly the next most famous Byzantine emperor after Justinian I the Great (r. 527-565) and his reign had achieved a lot for Byzantium. His reign saw the Byzantine Empire at its height as a military and cultural superpower of the Middle Ages all while its borders greatly expanded especially due to Basil's conquest of the Bulgarian Empire which was thus annexed into Byzantium. Aside from his famous conquests, Basil II too was a great reformer and politician whose reign saw the empire undergo major reforms and developments. As an overall commander and administrator at the same time, Basil II's rule was a highly active one which thus makes him the best example of what a Byzantine emperor is. In this video, I will go over 10 surprising facts about the life and reign of the legendary Basil II and if you have any thoughts about him or suggestions, please leave it in the comments. 00:00 Intro 01:38 His Reign was Longer than You Think 03:15 He did not Rule Independently until Later in Life 05:08 He Established the Legendary Varangian Guard Unit 06:42 His Physical Appearance and Personality 08:15 His Campaigns Against the Arabs 09:35 His Campaigns Against Bulgaria 10:55 His Conquest of Bulgaria 12:26 His Campaigns Against Georgia 13:47 His Military and Social Reforms 15:09 He Never Married 16:54 Extro and Credits Check Out Related Videos from my Channel No Budget Films: 5 Times to Feel Bad for Justinian II and 5 Times to Hate Him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtw0PdEBUo Top 10 Unknown Facts about Justinian the Great https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcOfeWvBA34 Top 8 Byzantine Naval Battles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4vP_YAZ0LI Top 10 Decisive Byzantine Battles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crz7M4QNXFk 10 Byzantine Contributions to the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-exxhc_vUw A Tour of the Land Walls of Constantinople https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruz_PLs-KhM The History of Byzantium in 63 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CSAuwUMXk0 Ranking the 12 Centuries of Byzantine History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDVg978A9kU Top 10 Byzantine Empresses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbAcaWYSA_8 Top 10 Byzantine Literary Works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDRotcmpRQo Top 12 Byzantine Emperors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USCcrNA33Wo Top 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToWJt4t81j8 Ranking the 15 Byzantine Imperial Dynasties https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kyq_dJfNOA The Deaths of All 90 Byzantine Emperors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diqnJa77mbI Video produced/ written/ narrated by Powee Celdran This video contains artworks depicting the Byzantine Empire from various online artists (notably https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpS2QujXWWMmimZTIiMVmg and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCalwX7xjG1kg2i3DObNr7tg)