This study investigates the mechanisms of imperial governance employed by Basil II to maintain stability and authority across the Byzantine Empire between 976 and 1025. Catherine Holmes, a specialist in Byzantine history, utilizes a rigorous historiographical approach to deconstruct later myths surrounding the 'Bulgar-slayer.' By analyzing primary sources, specifically the testimony of John Skylitzes, she argues that Basil's reign was defined by a sophisticated interplay of administrative control, military force, and political persuasion rather than mere martial prowess.

Scholars recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Byzantine administrative history and the critical evaluation of medieval sources. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those researching the internal mechanics of the Macedonian dynasty.