Roman of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Roman was emperor (tsar
) of Bulgaria
from 977 to 997 (in Byzantine captivity from 991).
by his marriage with Maria
(renamed Eirene) Lakapene, the granddaughter of the Byzantine
Emperor Romanos I Lakapenos. It is possible that he had the double name Roman Simeon, but this may be due to confusion with another man in the sources. He was born around 930, and had probably visited Constantinople
with his mother and older brothers soon after 931.
We know nothing about Roman's life until 968, when he joined his older brother Boris in Constantinople to negotiate a peace agreement between Bulgaria and Byzantium, during which they apparently served as honorary hostages at the Byzantine court. On their father's abdication in 969, Boris and Roman returned to Bulgaria, where Boris II
succeeded as emperor. Roman may have been proclaimed co-emperor in accordance with Byzantine usage, but the evidence for that is vague.
In Bulgaria Roman probably shared his brother's destiny, becoming first a pawn in the hands of Prince Sviatoslav I of Kiev
and then in those of the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes. After the latter's victory in 971, Roman was taken to Constantinople together with his brother's family. To ensure that the Bulgarian dynasty would die out (Boris II apparently had only daughters), the Byzantine emperor had Roman castrated. Boris and Roman remained in honorary captivity at the imperial palace until after the death of the emperor in 976.
At this point the raids of the Kometopouloi
into Byzantine possessions in Macedonia
led to a Byzantine stratagem intended to divide the leadership of the still-unconquered Bulgarian lands in the west. Temporarily jailed, Boris and Roman were allowed to escape in 977. During their attempt to cross the Bulgarian border, Boris II was taken for an enemy and killed by a guard. Roman managed to identify himself to the Bulgarian patrols, and was duly recognized by the Bulgarians as emperor, although as a eunuch he was ineligible for the throne.
Although Roman was acknowledged as the official Bulgarian ruler, most af the military matters were left in the hands of Samuil, who was the youngest brother of the Comitopuli dynasty
, and Roman devoted to church deeds similar to his father Peter in his end of life. During one of his invasions of Bulgaria, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II
succeeded in capturing Roman in 991. Roman remained in Byzantine captivity until his death in 997, and it was only then that Samuel took the Bulgarian imperial title. Such, at least, is the sequence of events reported by the trustworthy historian Yahya of Antioch
.
(According to the later testimony of the Byzantine chronicler John Skylitzes, in 1004 Skopje
was surrendered to Basil II by its governor Roman Simeon, who may have been mistaken for Emperor Roman in the text. Roman Simeon received the title of patrikios and was named military governor or strategos
of the theme of Abydos.)
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
) of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
from 977 to 997 (in Byzantine captivity from 991).
Reign
Roman was the second surviving son of Emperor Peter I of BulgariaPeter I of Bulgaria
Peter I was emperor of Bulgaria from 27 May 927 to 969.-Early reign:Peter I was the son of Simeon I of Bulgaria by his second marriage to Maria Sursuvul, the sister of George Sursuvul. Peter had been born early in the 10th century, but it appears that his maternal uncle was very influential at...
by his marriage with Maria
Eirene Lakapena
Irene Lekapene was the Empress consort of Peter I of Bulgaria. She was а daughter of Christopher Lekapenos, son and co-emperor of Romanus I, and his wife Augusta Sophia....
(renamed Eirene) Lakapene, the granddaughter of the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Emperor Romanos I Lakapenos. It is possible that he had the double name Roman Simeon, but this may be due to confusion with another man in the sources. He was born around 930, and had probably visited Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
with his mother and older brothers soon after 931.
We know nothing about Roman's life until 968, when he joined his older brother Boris in Constantinople to negotiate a peace agreement between Bulgaria and Byzantium, during which they apparently served as honorary hostages at the Byzantine court. On their father's abdication in 969, Boris and Roman returned to Bulgaria, where Boris II
Boris II of Bulgaria
Boris II was emperor of Bulgaria from 969 to 977 .-Reign:Boris II was the eldest surviving son of Emperor Peter I of Bulgaria and Maria Lakapena, a granddaughter of Emperor Romanos I Lakapenos of Byzantium...
succeeded as emperor. Roman may have been proclaimed co-emperor in accordance with Byzantine usage, but the evidence for that is vague.
In Bulgaria Roman probably shared his brother's destiny, becoming first a pawn in the hands of Prince Sviatoslav I of Kiev
Sviatoslav I of Kiev
Sviatoslav I Igorevich ; , also spelled Svyatoslav, was a prince of Rus...
and then in those of the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes. After the latter's victory in 971, Roman was taken to Constantinople together with his brother's family. To ensure that the Bulgarian dynasty would die out (Boris II apparently had only daughters), the Byzantine emperor had Roman castrated. Boris and Roman remained in honorary captivity at the imperial palace until after the death of the emperor in 976.
At this point the raids of the Kometopouloi
Comitopuli dynasty
The Cometopuli dynasty was the last royal dynasty in the First Bulgarian Empire, ruling from ca. 976 until the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule in 1018. The most notable member of the dynasty, tsar Samuel is famous for successfully resisting Byzantine conquest for more than 40 years.-Origin...
into Byzantine possessions in Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
led to a Byzantine stratagem intended to divide the leadership of the still-unconquered Bulgarian lands in the west. Temporarily jailed, Boris and Roman were allowed to escape in 977. During their attempt to cross the Bulgarian border, Boris II was taken for an enemy and killed by a guard. Roman managed to identify himself to the Bulgarian patrols, and was duly recognized by the Bulgarians as emperor, although as a eunuch he was ineligible for the throne.
Although Roman was acknowledged as the official Bulgarian ruler, most af the military matters were left in the hands of Samuil, who was the youngest brother of the Comitopuli dynasty
Comitopuli dynasty
The Cometopuli dynasty was the last royal dynasty in the First Bulgarian Empire, ruling from ca. 976 until the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule in 1018. The most notable member of the dynasty, tsar Samuel is famous for successfully resisting Byzantine conquest for more than 40 years.-Origin...
, and Roman devoted to church deeds similar to his father Peter in his end of life. During one of his invasions of Bulgaria, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
succeeded in capturing Roman in 991. Roman remained in Byzantine captivity until his death in 997, and it was only then that Samuel took the Bulgarian imperial title. Such, at least, is the sequence of events reported by the trustworthy historian Yahya of Antioch
Yahya of Antioch
Yahya of Antioch, full name Yaḥya ibn Saʿīd al-Anṭākī , was a Melkite Christian physician and historian of the 11th century....
.
(According to the later testimony of the Byzantine chronicler John Skylitzes, in 1004 Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
was surrendered to Basil II by its governor Roman Simeon, who may have been mistaken for Emperor Roman in the text. Roman Simeon received the title of patrikios and was named military governor or strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of the theme of Abydos.)