This history of the Byzantine Empire is a lecture series written and presented by Mr. Lars Brownworth, author of the book "Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization". (in bookstores and on Amazon.com) He has traveled extensively from the furthest reaches of the Byzantine Empire all the way to its heart at Constantinople. Join him for an engaging look at the history of the Byzantine Empire through the eyes of 12 of its greatest rulers. For more information, including video of Mr. Brownworth's Smithsonian Lecture on Byzantium, please visit http://www.12byzantinerulers.com/
http://www.12byzantinerulers.com/
Episode 13 - Basil II
By the time Basil II was crowned at age two, the Macedonian Dynasty had led the Byzantine Empire to seemingly endless military victories and unprecedented heights of glory. However it was not the emperors who had accomplished so much, but their powerful generals. In fact Basil's dynasty seemed to be in danger of becoming purely ceremonial or disappearing completely. The young emperor, dominated completely by his regents, seemed unlikely to change things. There was no trace of the heroic about him, no charisma or sparkling personality, and yet he was to emerge as the greatest emperor of his dynasty- bending the army, the empire, and foreign princes alike to the force of his will. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of Basil II, the last great conqueror Byzantium ever produced.