Tsar Boris II

Boris II was a Bulgarian tsar who ruled from 970 to 971. He was the eldest son of Tsar Peter I and Tsaritsa Irene Lekapene. Together with his brother Roman, Boris was sent to Byzantium as a hostage. After their father’s death in 970, the brothers returned to Bulgaria.

Boris II’s reign was beset by difficulties and complications. The Rus’ attacked from the north and captured the capital, Preslav. The Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phokas was murdered in 969 and was succeeded by John I Tzimiskes. The new emperor attempted to reconcile with Boris II, but his proposal was rejected. Instead, Boris sent Rus’ reinforcements against Byzantium under Prince Sviatoslav of Kyiv. In the summer of 970, however, Sviatoslav’s troops were defeated by the Byzantine commander Bardas Skleros at the fortress of Arcadiopolis.

In the spring of 971, Emperor John I Tzimiskes advanced towards Preslav. After a fierce battle with the combined Rus’ and Bulgarian army, Byzantium captured Bulgaria’s capital. Initially, Tzimiskes recognised Boris II as ruler of the Bulgarians, but later dishonoured him and occupied Bulgaria. Boris and his brother Roman were again taken to Constantinople, where Boris was forced to remove his symbols of authority in public. After this act, John Tzimiskes regarded Bulgaria as his possession, and parts of its territory came under Byzantine rule.

Boris II and Roman escaped from Constantinople in 977, but Boris was mistakenly killed by the Bulgarian border guards at the frontier. His wife’s name is unknown, and he left no male heir, only daughters. One daughter, Maria, is mentioned in connection with Tsar John Vladislav.