The Children of Adam and Eve

Basil II (958?-1025), Byzantine emperor (976-1025), the greatest ruler of
the Macedonian dynasty. The son of Emperor Romanus II (939-63), he reigned
jointly with his Brother Constantine VIII (960?-1028) after the Death of
the usurper John I Tzimisces in 976, but Constantine never took an active
role in government. Basil's greatest achievements were the conquest of
Armenia in the east and the destruction of the Bulgarian Empire, which
threatened Byzantium on the west. He waged war on the Bulgars for nearly
two decades. Defeating (1014) the Bulgarian czar Samuel (flourished
976-1014), he subjected his people to Byzantine rule and was given the
surname Bulgaroctonos (Slayer of Bulgars). The Byzantine Empire began to
decline after Basil's Death.