Basil II (958- 1025) 5

The Byzantine empire reached its height around the year 1000 under the rule of Basil II, 'The Bulgar Slayer.' While Byzantium was mostly cursed with terrible, short-lived rulers, Basil II was an exception. His conquests made the Byzantine empire more secure than at any time in its history, leading to a short-lived economic boom that helped Western Europe emerge from the dark ages. Unfortunately for the Byzantines, the rulers that followed Basil were truly terrible. After their defeat by the Turks at Manzikert in 1071, the empire was continually pillaged by both Western European and Turks, up until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.