Once Again about the Relation of Basil II with Bulgaria and the Bulgarians

Recently Paul Stephenson examined the sobriquet given to Basil II as a result of his victories against the Bulgars, that of "Voulgaroktonos" or Bulgar-Slayer and traces his reputation as such to the modern era. In his book The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer Stephenson revealed in why Basil transforms from porphyrogennetos into the Voulgaroktonos.

 As the author suspects it has more to do with political changes, particularly in the ways that Bulgarians were viewed in the twelfth century, rather than any particular historical activities. However, Basil image would decline again in later centuries, particularly with the rise of the Turks and a decline in the threat from the Bulgarians...