Roman dies in captivity in Constantinople in…

Roman dies in captivity in Constantinople in 997, ending the line of Bulgarian rulers started by Krum.

Because of the war with Constantinople, it is dangerous to leave the throne vacant for long, and Samuel is chosen (or self-declared) as the new Emperor of Bulgaria because he has the closest relations to the deceased emperor and is Roman's long-standing military commander.

Constantinople will not recognize the new emperor, as for the Greeks Boris II's abdication had symbolized the official end of Bulgaria and Samuel is considered a mere rebel.

Instead, Samuel seeks recognition from the Pope, which will be a serious blow to the position of the Empire in the Balkans and will weaken the influence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, thereby benefiting both the See of Rome and Bulgaria.

Samuel possibly receives his imperial crown from Pope Gregory V. From 997, the intermittent struggle with Constantinople goes against Samuel.