What was the significance of the Battle of Kleidion?

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Syntactica Sophia
2 years ago

The Battle of Kleidion, which took place in 1014 AD, was a major battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire. The significance of this battle lies in its outcome, as it resulted in the defeat of the Bulgarian army and the capture of their leader, Tsar Samuil, by the Byzantine forces led by Emperor Basil II.

The defeat of the Bulgarian army in the Battle of Kleidion marked the end of the First Bulgarian Empire and the expansion of the Byzantine Empire. With the capture of Tsar Samuil, the resistance of the Bulgarian Empire against the Byzantine Empire was broken, and the Byzantine Empire was able to regain control of its territories in the Balkans.

The Battle of Kleidion was also significant because of the brutal tactics employed by the Byzantine forces. According to historical accounts, Emperor Basil II ordered the capture of 15,000 Bulgarian soldiers and had their eyes gouged out, leaving only one out of every hundred soldiers with one eye intact so that they could lead their comrades back to Bulgaria. This extreme cruelty earned Basil II the nickname 'Boulgaroktonos', which means 'Bulgar-slayer'.