Basil II

About Basil II

Basil II (958–1025 CE) was one of the most consequential rulers of the Byzantine Empire, earning the epithet 'the Bulgar-Slayer' for his decisive military campaigns. As an emperor, he vastly expanded the empire's territory, effectively crushing the Bulgarian Empire and securing Byzantine control over the Balkans. His long and powerful reign, characterized by military prowess and shrewd administration, is why he secures the #391 ranking on the Historical Popularity Index, placing him among the most influential figures in world history.

Despite his historical significance, Basil II's modern digital footprint is modest. He currently garners approximately 330K annualized Wikipedia pageviews in 2025. This level of attention places him in an 'Attention Gap' of roughly 1x—meaning his internet traffic is fairly proportional to his importance, but he is largely overshadowed by figures with far less global impact. For contrast, the much lower-ranked politician Reinhard Heydrich (#949 importance) pulls in 1.5M views, highlighting a significant disparity in digital curiosity.

Looking forward, interest in the emperor appears slightly to be waning, as evidenced by a -3.0% year-over-year change in views, with momentum dropping by -6% between Q1 and Q3 of 2025, suggesting that the vast military achievements of the Byzantine age are not currently commanding significant online traffic.