After the Byzantine plan to use Aaron to cause instability in Bulgaria failed, they tried to encourage the rightful heirs to the throne, Boris II and Roman, to oppose Samuel. Basil II hoped that they would win the support of the nobles and isolate Samuel or perhaps even start a Bulgarian civil war. Boris and Roman were sent back in 977 but while they were passing through a forest near the border, Boris was killed by Bulgarian guards who were misled by his Byzantine clothing. Roman, who was walking some distance behind, managed to identify himself to the guards.
Roman was taken to Vidin, where he was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria. Samuel became his first lieutenant and general and together they gathered an army and fought the Byzantines. During his captivity, Roman had been castrated on the orders of John I Tzimiskes so that he would not have heirs. Thus Samuel was certain to eventually succeed Roman. The new emperor entrusted Samuel with the state administration and became occupied with church and religious affairs.
Svuda isto, nemoguće da svi greše. Mada i ovo što sam ti poslao da se posvetio samo crkvenim poslovima je pod znakom pitanja. Bez obzira da li on bio evnuh ili ne, u srednjem veku je pravilo dok se vladar sam ne odrekne prestola ne može ga drugi naslediti. Čak iako se posvetio samo crkvenim poslovima, to ne znači da se odrekao carskog zvanja. Posvetiti se crkvenim poslovima ne znači i zamonašiti se.
Meni jednostavno ostaje logično da je Roman bio car. Jedino što je u tom slučaju Samuilo mogao biti je Romanov savladar i budući naslednik. Niko to ne negira uopšte. Ali savladar ne znači biti i car.
