Samuel of Bulgaria
（重定向自Samuil）
![](/Images/godic/202502/09/Samuil_of_bolgaria_reconstruction0724.jpg")
![The Byzantines seize the capital Preslav.](/Images/godic/202502/09/The_Chronicle_of_Ioannis_Skylitzis_Preslav_Attacked0724.jpg")
![Bulgarian Empire ca. 960, before the Rus' and Byzantine invasions.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Central_and_Eastern_Europe_around_950_AD0724.png")
![Prespa Fortess](/Images/godic/202502/09/Prespa_Fortess0724.png")
Samuel (also Samuil, representing Bulgarian Самуил, pronounced [samuˈil]) was the Tsar (Emperor) of the First Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 6 October 1014. From 977 to 997, he was a general under Roman I of Bulgaria, the second surviving son of Emperor Peter I of Bulgaria, and co-ruled with him, as Roman bestowed upon him the command of the army and the effective royal authority. As Samuel struggled to preserve his country's independence from the Byzantine Empire, his rule was characterized by constant warfare against the Byzantines and their equally ambitious ruler Basil II.