Eustathios Daphnomeles Eustathios Daphnomeles ( , fl . early 11th century ) was a Byzantine " strategos " and patrician who distinguished himself in the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria . Along with Nikephoros Ouranos and Nikephoros Xiphias , he ranks as one of the most prominent and successful generals in the war between Emperor Basil II ( r . 976 – 1025 ) and Samuel of Bulgaria ( r . 997 – 1014 ) , helping to end the long conflict by blinding and capturing the last Bulgarian leader , Ibatzes , in 1018 . Biography . The main source describing Daphnomeles ' s life , and indeed the Bulgarian campaigns of Emperor Basil II , is the late 11th century " Synopsis Historion " of John Skylitzes , whose chronology is often problematic to reconstruct . Daphnomeles came from the landed aristocracy of Asia Minor , which for centuries provided the Byzantine military elite . Traditional historiography places his first appearance in circa 1005 , when the Adriatic port city of Dyrrhachium is said to have been surrendered by John Chryselios , a local magnate , to the Byzantines . Daphnomeles , at the head of a fleet , took possession of the city . Given the chronologically unclear narrative of Skylitzes , however , it is possible that this episode reflects his later appointment ( after 1018 ) as " strategos " of the city . Daphnomeles participated in the subsequent conflicts against Tsar Samuil , but his greatest feat was the capture of Ibatzes in 1018 , for which he is given a prominent position in Skylitzes ' s work . Following the defeat at the Battle of Kleidion in 1015 , Bulgarian resistance began to collapse . By 1018 , most Bulgarian commanders had surrendered , and only Ibatzes , who had retreated with his followers to the royal estate of Pronista , a naturally strong and defensible highland position , continued to resist . He rejected both bribes and threats from the Byzantines , and for 55 days , the Byzantine army under Emperor Basil II remained encamped at Devol nearby , waiting for his surrender . At that point , and as local crowds gathered to Ibatzes ' s palace for the feast of the Dormition , Daphnomeles , now " strategos " of Achrida , on his own initiative , resolved to end the impasse . With only two escorts , he climbed the way to the estate , and announced himself to Ibatzes . Ibatzes , believing that Daphnomeles would not have come alone unless he intended to forge an alliance against Basil , retreated with the " strategos " to a secluded wooded glade in the gardens for a private discussion . There , Daphnomeles and his two hidden associates sprang on the Bulgarian general , blinded him , and carried him to the upper story of the palace , through the assembled crowds who were too stunned to react . When the Bulgarians recovered , they gathered underneath the building crying for revenge . Daphnomeles , however , addressed them and managed to convince them of the futility of further resistance , and to lay down their arms and seek the emperor ' s pardon . Following this feat , he was appointed " strategos " of the " thema " of Dyrrhachium by a grateful Emperor Basil . In 1029 , however , he was accused of conspiring with other prominent governors of the Balkans to overthrow Emperor Romanos III Argyros ( r . 1028 – 1034 ) in favour of " doux " Constantine Diogenes . The accused were then recalled to Constantinople , beaten , paraded through the " Mese " , and banished . Nothing further is known of him .