982 On death of Otto, Basil consolidates his authority in southern Italy.
989 Death of Bardas Phocas, who for two years has been in revolt against the emperor. Sclerus, conspiring for the second time against the throne, dies.
991 Southern Iberia ceded to the empire by King David.
995 Campaign of Basil in Syria. Aleppo taken. Unsuccessful attack on Tripolis.
996 Great defeat of King Samuel of Bulgaria at the Sperchius.
1002 Samuel invades Thrace, takes Hadrianopolis, but is driven off. The war now proceeds for some years in desultory fashion.
1014 Basil resumes the Bulgarian War in earnest. Great victory under Nicephorus Xiphias at Zetunium. Basil puts out the eyes of 15,000 prisoners. Death of Samuel. The emperor’s cruelty engenders a last effort in the Bulgarians, but by 1018 the destruction of the kingdom is complete. Gibbon calls this the most important triumph of Roman arms since the time of Belisarius.
1022 Victory of Basil over a coalition of Armenian princes. They sue for peace.
1025 Basil prepares to expel Mohammedans from Sicily, but dies. His brother Constantine IX becomes sole emperor.
1027 Attack by the Patzinaks and Mohammedans repulsed.