Basil The Bulgar Slayer Needs Balance
Basil II, known as Basil the Bulgar-Slayer, was Byzantine emperor from 976-1025.
Okay, you’re right, “Basil the Bulgar-Slayer” might be the most medieval name of all time. It sounds like the kind of name a random name generator would spit out to create your medieval name if you enter your pet’s name, the street you grew up on, and your favorite color. And as the name suggests, Basil was a brutal ruler.
Despite this brutality, or maybe because of it, he had many accomplishments and is considered one of the greatest Byzantine emperors. Shockingly, he is not as admired by the Bulgarians. His reign was the longest of any Byzantine emperor, with 65 years on the throne.
Basil II was an active military emperor. When he died in 1025, Basil II left behind an empire that was far larger and more prosperous than it had been for several centuries.He spent a great deal of his reign personally commanding Byzantine armies, as he was wholly focused on expanding imperial authority and territory.
The Battle of Kleidion in 1014 cemented his reputation as “The Bulgar Slayer.” After defeating his enemy on the field, he had 15,000 Bulgarian prisoners blinded, sparing one man in every hundred so that he could lead his comrades home. When Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria saw his maimed troops stagger back home, he died of a heart attack.
Emperor Basil II was not what you’d call “a family man.” He rose to the throne after a fight with his own brother, who he had executed. Basil was suspicious of rivals, so he never married and had no children of his own.
Basil II arranged for his sister Anna to marry the Grand Prince of the Rus, Vladimir the Great. She went from being a Mediterranean princess in the grandest city in Europe, to living in a relatively undeveloped, pre-Christian Moscow. She was not at all happy about this. But Basil wanted the political alliance and to convert the Rus to Christianity, so off she went.
Basil pushed the borders of his empire outward both east and west. He ruthlessly suppressed many, many rebellions of his nobles, keeping them in line and asserting imperial authority. Basil established the Varangian Guard, Viking mercenaries who were elite soldiers and the emperor's personal bodyguard. He was active in public works projects, building roads, bridges, and aqueducts, as well as many churches and monasteries.
Upon his death, Basil II left an empire that was far larger, more prosperous, and more formidable than it had been for several centuries. His reign saw the Byzantine Empire reach its height of power and influence in the medieval period.
If you’re a manager who exceeds all of your goals but has low employee engagement scores, you might be a modern Basil II. Yes, Basil got a lot done, but he’s remembered as much for his brutality as his accomplishments. Leading by fear might have been a common medieval strategy, but you’re definitely going to get a talking-to from HR if that’s your style today.
Not only will it earn you a bad reputation, it’s counterproductive too. Being too harsh on your team can lead to poor motivation, poor morale, and poor performance. You don’t want your team to work furiously when you’re in the room, then slump over their laptops when you leave.
Unlike medieval serfs, your employees are free to pack up and move to the next kingdom, and that’s what they’ll do if life is too harsh under your regime. A team that works in fear makes more mistakes and misses more deadlines. Don’t be that guy.
