Tsar Samuil

Tsar Samuil (died October 6, 1014; reigned 997-1014) is one of the most heroic Bulgarian rulers ever. Although he was not crowned as a Tsar until 997, Samuil's reign actually dates from 976, when his predecessor Tsar Roman bestowed the power of the state, if not the crown, upon him. Though not a member of a royal family, Samuil proved born to rule. Soon, the kingdom reigned supreme over virtually the entire Balkans, with only parts of Greece and Thrace remaining under Byzantine control. For 15 years, Samuil and Basil prepared for the clash both men knew was coming. In 1002, full- scale war broke out. By this time, Basil's army was stronger after being tested in battle during his eastern campaigns, and Samuil was forced to retreat into his country's heartland. Still, by harassing the powerful Byzantine army, Samuil hoped to force Basil to the peace table. For a dozen years, his tactics maintained Bulgarian independence and even kept Basil away from the main Bulgarian cities. However, on July 29, 1014 at Kleidion (Belasitsa) in Macedonia, Basil II was able to corner the main Bulgarian army and force a battle while Samuil was away. He won a crushing victory and blinded 14,000 prisoners, leaving one man in every hundred with the sight in one eye to lead his comrades home. The sight was too much even for Samuil, who blamed himself for the defeat and died less than three months later, on October 6.