The Reign of Leo VI (886-912): Politics and PeopleThe focus of this book is the Byzantine emperor Leo VI (886-912) and his reign. He has been characterised as a careless and ineffectual emperor, but this work presents a more considered account of Leo and the politics of his age. Initial chapters on sources and the broader historical context are provided before particular aspects of Leo's life and reign are presented in eight chapters, arranged so as to give a rough chronological framework. Subjects discussed include relations with family and officials, imperial ideology, and ecclesiastical and military affairs. By drawing on a broad spectrum of primary evidence the book illustrates that Leo forged a distinctive imperial style as a literate city-based non-campaigning emperor, and argues that he was actively concerned about the problems that faced his empire. |
Contents
The Establishment of the Macedonian | 23 |
Macedonian or Amorian? | 42 |
The End of Photios | 68 |
The Dominate of Stylianos Zaoutzes | 89 |
The Reality of Leo the Wise | 110 |
The Four Wives of Leo VI | 133 |
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AASS affairs Alexander Amorian Andronikos Arabs Arethas Argyroi asserts Bardas Basil brother Bulgarian Bulgars Byzance Byzantine empire Byzantinists Byzantium ceremony Chapter Cheynet Choerosphactès chronicles Chronological Accuracy church co-emperor concerned Constantine VII Constantinople Dagron death Doukas drungarios Dvornik emperor empress episode Epitaphios Eudokia eunuch Eustathios Euthymios evidence fact father favour fourth marriage Grosdidier de Matons Hagia Sophia heir Herlong Himerios Homilies Ignatios Imperial Centuries indicates Karlin-Hayter Katakalon Kolias Laourdas Leo Choirosphaktes Leo the Wise Leo VI Leo's reign letter Logothete Macedonian dynasty Magdalino magistros Mango married Michael Michael III military monastery naval Nikephoros Niketas Nikolaos's Oikonomidès palace Parainesis patriarch Nikolaos Phokas Photios Photios's plot Polemis R. J. H. Jenkins reign of Leo relationship repr Romanos Lekapenos Samonas seems Solomon sources Stephen strategos Stylianos Zaoutzes Stylianos's Symeon Tabari Taktika tetragamy Theodore Theophano Thessalonike throne tion Vasiliev Vogt whilst wife wisdom Zoe Zaoutzaina