Ultima etapă a Războiului dintre Imperiul Bizantin și Primul Țarat Bulgar (1014-1018)
The Last Stage of the War between the Byzantine Empire and the First Bulgarian Tsarate (1014­-1018)

Summary/Abstract: The revival of the Bulgarian tsarate under the rule of Samuel determined a long series of wars with the Byzantine Empire. After a period of Bulgarian victories, the Byzantine army was able to take revenge. In the offensive campaigns led between 997 and 1004 was conquered a large part of the territory recovered by Samuel, including the area crossed by Via Egnatia. The last stage of the conflict began in 1014, with a Bulgarian attack against Thessaloniki. The counteroffensive of Basil II destroyed the powerful defences set by the Bulgarians in the Kleidion gorge. In the following years the Byzantine army continued to conquer the Macedonian fortresses; the following tsars Gabriel Radomir, John Vladislav and Presian tried in vain to resist with their diminished forces. The capital Ohrid was occupied in 1018. Two new provinces were organized on the territory of the former tsarate: Sirmium and Bulgaria (with the residence at Skopion). Basil II applied a policy of conciliation with the local population (among them, the Aromanians living allover the former Bulgaria), offering some fiscal and religious advantages to the entire people, and functions to some aristocrats.

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