Basil II: The Emperor Who Restored Byzantium
Basil II: The Emperor Who Restored Byzantium
c. AD 976 to 1025, the Bulgar Slayer, and the anonymous Christ folles of his era.
Basil II ruled the Byzantine Empire until AD 1025, and collectors most often encounter his era through the large Class A2 anonymous bronze folles depicting Christ. His named gold and silver coinage was generally issued jointly with his brother and co-emperor Constantine VIII.
That distinction matters: the famous anonymous bronze coins do not name Basil II or show his portrait. Their attribution comes from type, chronology, and minting context rather than an imperial legend.
Basil II was born around AD 958 and crowned co-emperor in 960 alongside his younger brother Constantine VIII. After John I Tzimiskes died in 976, Basil increasingly took effective control of government, and his long reign became one of the most powerful periods of the medieval Eastern Roman Empire.
The Bulgar Slayer
Basil is known to later history by the epithet Boulgaroktonos, or "Bulgar Slayer," because of his long wars against the Bulgarian state. The nickname is famous today, although historians caution that its widespread use is later than Basil's own reign and should not automatically be treated as a contemporary official title.
Basil suffered a major defeat at Trajan's Gate in 986 but eventually reversed Byzantine fortunes. His forces won an important victory at Kleidion in 1014, and Bulgaria was fully brought under Byzantine rule by 1018. Later Byzantine chronicles report that Basil ordered thousands of captured Bulgarian soldiers blinded after Kleidion, leaving guides to lead them home. The story became central to his reputation, but its dramatic details come from later literary sources and should be presented as a reported tradition rather than an independently verifiable event in every detail.
Basil II and Vladimir of Kyiv
During the great aristocratic rebellions of the 980s, Basil sought military support from Vladimir of Kyiv. Byzantine and Rus traditions connect the agreement with Vladimir's conversion to Christianity and his marriage to Basil's sister Anna. The exact sequence and details are debated, but the alliance was historically important. A contingent of Rus warriors sent to Basil is commonly linked with the development of the Varangian Guard, which became one of the Byzantine emperor's most famous elite military units.
What Is an Anonymous Byzantine Follis?
The anonymous follis series replaced the emperor's name and portrait on major bronze coinage with explicitly Christian imagery. The obverse usually features Christ, while the reverse carries religious inscriptions rather than an emperor's portrait and titles. The series began under John I Tzimiskes with what collectors call Class A1. The much larger Class A2 folles are generally assigned to the joint reign of Basil II and Constantine VIII, although precise sub-dating within the series can vary by scholarly chronology.
A typical Class A2 follis shows a facing bust of Christ holding the Gospels. The reverse usually carries a four-line inscription reading forms of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕ, "Jesus Christ, King of Kings," with ornaments above and below. Collectors study the decorative ornaments, flan size, weight, style, overstrikes, and fabric because Class A2 itself contains many varieties.
Did Basil II Appear on His Own Coins?
Yes, but not on the anonymous bronze folles. Basil and Constantine VIII appear together on named gold and silver issues, where imperial portraiture and legends remained important. This is one of the key distinctions in Basil II collecting: anonymous bronze emphasizes Christ, while named precious-metal coinage identifies the emperors.
- Class A2 anonymous follis, the most accessible and recognizable bronze coin associated with the reign, Christ on the obverse and "King of Kings" on the reverse
- Gold histamenon nomisma, high-value gold coinage commonly depicting Christ and the imperial brothers
- Gold tetarteron nomisma, a lighter gold denomination introduced into the Byzantine monetary system during this era
- Silver miliaresion, thin silver coinage naming or representing Basil II and Constantine VIII, often with crosses and religious inscriptions
They connect several major themes: Byzantine military recovery, the Christianization of Rus, the Varangian Guard, the conquest of Bulgaria, and the development of one of medieval Europe's most recognizable coin types. The anonymous follis is especially useful for new collectors because it offers a large medieval bronze coin with bold Christian imagery at a price that is often far below Byzantine gold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Basil II anonymous folles actually say Basil II?
No. They are anonymous and omit the emperor's name. Their attribution to Basil II's era is based on numismatic classification and chronology.
What is a Class A2 anonymous follis?
It is a large Byzantine bronze type generally dated to the joint reign of Basil II and Constantine VIII, with Christ on the obverse and a "Jesus Christ, King of Kings" inscription on the reverse.
Did the anonymous follis begin under Basil II?
No. The series began under John I Tzimiskes. Class A2 is the major anonymous bronze class associated with Basil II's reign.
Which coins actually show Basil II?
Named gold and silver issues, especially histamena, tetartera, and miliaresia, can identify or depict Basil II together with Constantine VIII.
Was "Bulgar Slayer" Basil II's official title?
It is a famous later epithet associated with his campaigns against Bulgaria, but it should not be assumed to have functioned as a standard contemporary title during his reign.
Hold what the greats held.
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