The Historians' History of the World 07

969 Joannes Zimisces, the general, and Theophano conspire against Nicephorus, who is assassinated. Joannes (I) Zimisces takes the throne. He associates with him the young sons of Romanus II, Basil II, and Constantine IX, who were nominal rulers during reign of Nicephorus. The brother of Nicephorus, Leo, and his son Bardas Phocas make unsuccessful attempts to invite rebellion and regain the throne. They are banished.

970 Sviatoslaff conquers Bulgaria and invades Thrace. Philippopolis taken and inhabitants massacred.

971 Joannes proceeds against the Russians. Capture of Presthlava and King Boris of Bulgaria. Siege and capture of Dorystolon. Peace with the Russians. Bulgaria again a part of the empire and Boris a pensioner of the Byzantine court. The Mohammedan wars carried on.

972 Marriage of Otto the Great and Theophano, daughter of Romanus II.

973 Imperial victory at Nisibis. Defeat at Amida.

974 Joannes takes command of the Mohammedan War.

975 Many victories but futile siege of Tripolis. Antioch shuts out the imperial force.

976 Death of Joannes Zimisces, probably by poison. Basil II head of affairs with his brother for colleague. He is one of the greatest of the Eastern emperors.

Beginning of Period of Greatest Splendour of the Empire

979 Defeat of Sclerus by Bardas Phocas, the general, after a desperate revolt to capture the throne. The Bulgarians begin a long struggle to regain their independence.

982 On death of Otto, Basil consolidates his authority in southern Italy.

989 Death of Bardas Phocas, who for two years has been in revolt against the emperor. Sclerus, conspiring for the second time against the throne, dies.

991 Southern Iberia ceded to the empire by King David.

995 Campaign of Basil in Syria. Aleppo taken. Unsuccessful attack on Tripolis.

996 Great defeat of King Samuel of Bulgaria at the Sperchius.

1002 Samuel invades Thrace, takes Hadrianopolis, but is driven off. The war now proceeds for some years in desultory fashion.

1014 Basil resumes the Bulgarian War in earnest. Great victory under Nicephorus Xiphias at Zetunium. Basil puts out the eyes of 15,000 prisoners. Death of Samuel. The emperor’s cruelty engenders a last effort in the Bulgarians, but by 1018 the destruction of the kingdom is complete. Gibbon calls this the most important triumph of Roman arms since the time of Belisarius.

1022 Victory of Basil over a coalition of Armenian princes. They sue for peace.

1025 Basil prepares to expel Mohammedans from Sicily, but dies. His brother Constantine IX becomes sole emperor.

1027 Attack by the Patzinaks and Mohammedans repulsed.

1028 Constantine on his death-bed appoints Romanus (III) Argyrus his successor, makes him divorce his wife, and marry his daughter Zoe.

1030 Romanus defeated by the Mohammedans at Azaz and takes refuge in Antioch. He becomes the prey of melancholy, and Zoe takes the reins of government.

1031 Mohammedan pirates ravage Illyricum and Corfu. They are driven off by the people of Ragusa.

1032 Conspiracy and death of Constantine Diogenes.

1033 Capture of Edessa by the imperial fleet.

1034 Death of Romanus, probably by slow poison administered by Zoe, who now causes her paramour, Michael (IV) the Paphlagonian, to be proclaimed emperor, and marries him the day of her husband’s death. Earthquake at Jerusalem lasting forty days. Great famine throughout the empire.

1037 The Mohammedans attack the empire on all sides. They capture Edessa. The Patzinaks invade Thrace.

1038 The Mohammedans regain Edessa, by a stratagem that is the origin of the Tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

1039 The imperial force and the Normans attack the Mohammedans in Sicily. Messina (Messana) and Syracuse taken.

1040 A fresh Mohammedan army from Africa utterly defeated in Sicily. The Norman power begins to get the control in the island. The Bulgarians attempt to recover independence. They invade Thrace and Macedonia.

1041 Michael drives them back and brings the country again to Byzantine rule. Death of Michael. Zoe attempts to rule alone, but finds herself unequal to the task. She adopts her husband’s nephew, Michael (V) Calaphates, and makes him emperor. He expels Zoe. At his imprudent acts the people rise in rebellion.

1042 After a fierce battle between the people of Constantinople and the adherents of Michael, the latter and his uncle flee. Zoe and her sister Theodora are proclaimed co-empresses. Zoe has the eyes of Michael and his uncle put out. Jealous of her sister, Zoe marries Constantine (X) Monomachus. Rebellion of Maniaces, brother of Constantine’s mistress Sclerena. He is murdered in the midst of his camp.

1043 Invasion of the Russians; driven back after a defeat by Catacalon.

1045 Successful war with Cacicus, vassal king of Armenia and Iberia, ending in destruction of his kingdom.

1047 Rebellion of Tornicius.