Editing Basil II (section)

=== Campaigns against Georgia ===
{{Main|Byzantine–Georgian wars}}
The integrity of the Byzantine Empire was threatened after a full-scale rebellion led by Bardas Skleros broke out in 976. After winning a series of battles, the rebels conquered Asia Minor. In the urgency of the situation, Georgian prince [[David III of Tao]] aided Basil; after a decisive loyalist victory at the [[Battle of Pankalia|Battle of Pankaleia]], he was rewarded by lifetime rule of key imperial territories in eastern Asia Minor. David's rebuff of Basil in Bardas Phokas' revolt of 987, however, evoked Constantinople's distrust of the Georgian rulers. After the revolt's failure, David was forced to make Basil the legatee of his extensive possessions. In 1001, after the death of David of Tao, Basil inherited Tao, [[Phasiane (historical region)|Phasiane]] and [[Speri (region)|Speri]].{{sfn|Holmes|2005|p=2}} These provinces were then organized into the [[Iberia (theme)|theme of Iberia]] with the capital at [[Erzurum|Theodosiopolis]]. This forced the successor Georgian Bagratid ruler [[Bagrat III of Georgia|Bagrat III]] to recognize the new rearrangement. Bagrat's son [[George I of Georgia|George I]], however, inherited a longstanding claim to David's succession. George, who was young and ambitious, launched a campaign to restore the Kuropalates's succession to Georgia and occupied Tao in 1015–1016. He entered in an alliance with the Fatimid caliph of Egypt, al-Hakim, forcing Basil to refrain from an acute response to George's offensive. The Byzantines were also involved in a relentless war with the Bulgarians, limiting their actions to the west. As soon as [[Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria|Bulgaria was conquered]] in 1018 and al-Hakim was dead, Basil led his army against Georgia. Preparations for a larger-scale campaign against the [[Kingdom of Georgia]] were set, beginning with the re-fortification of Theodosiopolis.{{sfn|Holmes|2003}}

[[File:Skylitzes. Basil II vs Georgians cropped.jpg|thumb|right|A miniature depicting the defeat of the Georgian king [[George I of Georgia|George I]] ("Georgios of Abasgia") by the Basil II. ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'', fol. 195v.]]

In late 1021, Basil, at the head of a large Byzantine army reinforced by the [[Varangian Guard]], attacked the Georgians and their [[Bagratid Armenia|Armenian]] allies, recovering Phasiane and continuing beyond the frontiers of Tao into inner Georgia.{{sfn|Magdalino|2003|p=65}} King George burned the city of [[Oltu|Oltisi]] to prevent it falling to the enemy and retreated to [[Göle|Kola]]. A bloody [[Battle of Shirimni|battle was fought near the village Shirimni]] at [[Lake Çıldır|Lake Palakazio]] on 11 September; the emperor won a costly victory, forcing George I to retreat northwards into his kingdom. Basil plundered the country and withdrew for winter to [[Trabzon|Trebizond]].{{sfn|Wortley|2010|p=347}}

Several attempts to negotiate the conflict failed. George received reinforcements from the [[First Kingdom of Kakheti|Kakhetians]] and allied himself with the [[Byzantine]] commanders [[Nikephoros Phokas Barytrachelos]] and Nikephoros Xiphias in their abortive insurrection in the emperor's rear. In December, George's ally the Armenian king [[Senekerim-Hovhannes Artsruni|Senekerim]] of [[Vaspurakan]], who was being harassed by the [[Seljuk Turks]], surrendered his kingdom to the emperor.{{sfn|Mango|2002|p=309}} During early 1022, Basil launched a final offensive, defeating the Georgians at the [[Battle of Svindax]]. Menaced both by land and sea, George agreed to a [[Byzantine–Georgian treaty of 1022|treaty]] that handed over Tao, Phasiane, Kola, [[Ardahan|Artaan]] and [[Javakheti]], and left his infant son [[Bagrat IV of Georgia|Bagrat]] as Basil's hostage.{{sfn|Holmes|2005|p=483}}