What did basil do to the Bulgarian army?

Having crushed the Bulgarians, Basil exacted his vengeance cruelly—he was said to have captured 15,000 prisoners and fully blinded 99 of every 100 men, leaving one one-eyed man in each cohort to lead the rest back to their ruler.

Why is the Byzantine Empire considered a theocracy?

Jennifer Fretland VanVoorst argues, “the Byzantine Empire became a theocracy in the sense that Christian values and ideals were the foundation of the empire’s political ideals and heavily entwined with its political goals”.

Was basil a good emperor?

He gained the favour of Michael III, whose mistress he married on the emperor’s orders, and was proclaimed co-emperor in 866. He ordered the assassination of Michael the next year. Despite his humble origins, he showed great ability in running the affairs of state.

How many Bulgarians did Basil blind?

15,000 Bulgarians
Basil II the Bulgar-slayer and the Blinding of 15,000 Bulgarians in 1014: Mutilation and Prisoners of War in the Middle Ages.

Who started Byzantine Empire?

Roman emperor Constantine I
The Byzantine Empire was a vast and powerful civilization with origins that can be traced to 330 A.D., when the Roman emperor Constantine I dedicated a “New Rome” on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium.

What were the chief developments in the Byzantine Empire between 750 and 1000?

What were the chief developments in the Byzantine Empire between 750 and 1000? Emperors thought of the Byzantine Empire as a continuation of the Christian Roman Empire. Reforms were made in education, church life, military & peasant economy, and there was an intellectual renewal.

What are examples of theocracy?

Contemporary examples of theocracies include Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Vatican. See also church and state; sacred kingship.

Why is theocracy the best form of government?

Theocracies can Quickly Make Allies with Other Nations that Serve the Same Deity. One of the best advantages of a theocratic government is its ability to quickly find allies. If two independent nations have the same belief system, they can generally work together as allies.