Research Notes:

Samuil, later Tsar of Bulgaria, names "my father, my mother, my brother…Nicolas…--- and David" in a monument erected in [992/93]. The evidence for his supposed Armenian origin is provided by the Armenian historian Asolik, who refers to "deux frères qui s´appelaient Komsajag…l´aîné…Samuel, de nationalité arménienne, originaire du canton de Derĵan" (on the Euphrates, west of Erzerum), adds that Emperor Basilieos had brought them with mercenary troops to Macedonia to fight the Bulgars, that they defected "au roi des Bulgares, qui était eunuque"..., and that "les Comitopoules occupèrent la pays bulgare et entrèrent en guerre acharnée contre l´empereur". While it is clear that Samuil´s mother´s name was Armenian.., the same cannot be said for Nikolaos, although it is possible that this was not his original name. No other information is known about Samuil´s father, or his more distant ancestry, but their family background was presumably modest in light of the passage from Asolik which is quoted above. It is assumed that he died before the revolt organised by his sons as he is not named in the primary sources in connection with this event. ¹