DID U KNOW that Tzar Samoil’s army faced one of the most brutal acts of retribution in history, with thousands of his soldiers being blinded after a significant battle.
Tzar Samoil stands as a towering figure in the annals of Macedonia’s history. Ascending to power in the late 10th century, he carved out an empire that spanned present-day Macedonia, Albania, Greece, and parts of Bulgaria. His reign was characterized by his relentless campaigns against the Byzantine Empire, leading to numerous confrontations.
The Battle of Kleidion in 1014 was a pivotal moment in his rule. While his forces initially displayed formidable strength, they were eventually defeated by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. In a chilling act of retribution, Basil II ordered the blinding of 15,000 Macedonian soldiers, leaving one in every hundred men with one eye to lead the rest back home. This cruel act earned Basil II the moniker “Bulgar Slayer.”
Tzar Samoil, upon seeing the return of his blinded army, reportedly died of shock shortly after. Despite this tragic end, his legacy in Macedonia’s territory remains indomitable. He not only established a robust centralized state with Ohrid as its capital but also played a pivotal role in preserving Slavic culture and Orthodox Christianity in the region.
Today, Tzar Samoil is revered as a symbol of resistance against foreign domination and a beacon of Macedonian identity.
