West Bulgaria, Kingdom of

a feudal state with its capital in Prespa, later in Ochrida. According to Bulgarian historical literature it arose in 969 as a result of the insurrection led by the comitopulli, the sons of the comita (military governor) Nikolai—David, Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. Their foreign policy was determined by the persistent wars with Byzantium. After the death of his brothers, Samuel retained sole rule over the Kingdom of West Bulgaria and expanded its territory significantly (occupying part of Northern Greece and other regions); he restored the Bulgarian patriarchate abolished by the Byzantine emperor John Izimisces. Beginning in 1001, Byzantium launched an offensive against the Kingdom of West Bulgaria, and in 1014 the Byzantine emperor Basil II, known as the Bulgar Slayer, destroyed their forces at Belasitsa. Part of the Bulgarian nobility deserted to the Byzantine side. Samuel’s descendants, Gabriel Rodomir and Ivan Vladislav, were unable to organize resistance against Byzantium, and, in 1018, Basil II seized Ochrida and subjugated the Kingdom of West Bulgaria.