Madrid Codex miniatures provide authentic likeness of Tsar Samuel

Research into the Madrid Codex, a manuscript over nine centuries old, has led to the identification of authentic depictions of Tsar Samuel and his family members. Professor Milan Boškoski from the Institute of National History in Skopje identified the figures in the 11th and 12th-century miniatures, including Samuel, his son Gavril Radomir, his daughters Miroslava and Kosara, his wife Agata, and his grandson Jovan Vladislav.

Boškoski notes that the colored miniature depicting the wedding of Miroslava provides the only authentic likeness of the Tsar, showing him at approximately 50 years of age. This discovery suggests that previous widely published portraits of Tsar Samuel were merely artistic interpretations rather than historically accurate representations. One specific miniature depicts a scene from the Battle of Belasica, where Gavril Radomir is shown rescuing his father and carrying him to Prilep.