The Byzantine Empire is known worldwide for many things. However, few people know about the unusual life journeys of some of its most powerful emperors, like Basil I. These remarkable individuals rose from humble beginnings to one of the most powerful positions of the medieval world, shaping the course of history in Europe and beyond. Their lives were filled with intrigue, ambition and unexpected twists and turns of fate and destiny.
The peasant who became a Byzantine Emperor
Among the list of the most powerful Byzantine Emperors, Basil is a true example of someone who rose from humble beginnings to achieve immense wealth. Born to peasant parents in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia around 811, Basil’s early life was the opposite of royal and imperial.
Basil became known as “the Macedonian,” because he was born (around 811 or 813) in Charioupolis, today the city of Haryabolu in Eastern Thrace. He was born into a peasant family of probably Armenian origin, even though some scholars argue that he was Greek on his mother’s side. According to some accounts, Basil and his family were captured by Bulgarian raiders in 813. He spent part of his childhood in captivity before escaping to Byzantine territory. Despite his lack of formal education, Basil developed impressive physical strength and a remarkable talent for horsemanship, skills that would later prove crucial in his rise to power.
As a young man, Basil decided to go to Constantinople, hoping for a better life. He was armed only with his impressive physique and a passion for taming horses. Little did he know that these humble skills, despite being those of an ordinary boy from a peasant family, would pave the way to eventually being crowned Byzantine Emperor.
Basil’s talent with horses caught the eye of Emperor Michael III, who appointed him the head of the imperial stables, a humble yet honorary role. From there, Basil’s life story was nothing short of spectacular. Along with it, his rise was meteoric. Soon after his appointment, he became the emperor’s confidant and personal bodyguard, which allowed him to eliminate (kill) Michael’s enemies.
Among them was the powerful Bardas, the chief minister of the Byzantine Empire and Emperor Michael III’s uncle.
Despite his prominent familial connections to the top of the Byzantine hierarchy, he met a violent end in 866 CE at the hands of the ambitious Basil.
Despite his significant contributions to the successes of the Byzantine Empire, including military victories against Arab forces and promoting culture in the country, Bardas fell victim to extreme court intrigue and power struggles. Basil orchestrated his assassination. The ambitious man saw Bardas as a threat to his growing influence and aspirations for the throne and ensured he would no longer let him be a threat. While the official story claimed that Bardas was plotting against the emperor, it is more probable that Basil fabricated this accusation to justify the murder and consolidate his strong position in the Empire. By murdering Bardas, Basil removed a powerful figure and paved the way for his ascension to co-emperor and, eventually, sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.
Another step on this path, which reminds us more of a modern political thriller, is when Basil marries Michael’s mistress following the Emperor’s orders, cementing his position at the Byzantine imperial court.
Basil’s ambitions exceeded merely being an important member of the imperial court. In 867, he orchestrated the assassination of Michael III and installed himself as the sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire, a pivotal move in Byzantine history. Despite his questionable (and murderous) path to power, Basil proved to be an effective monarch, implementing vital legal reforms and conducting military campaigns that shaped Byzantine society for future generations.
Credit: John Skylitzes, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.
The end of Byzantine Emperor Basil
At the end of Basil I’s reign, his departure was as dramatic as his ascent to power. On August 29, 886, at the age of 74 or 75, Basil passed away in what was officially recorded as a hunting accident. According to contemporary reports, the elderly emperor’s belt became entangled in a deer’s antlers, dragging him for miles through the woods. Although an attendant managed to free him, Basil, consumed by paranoia in his final days, accused his rescuer of attempted murder and had him executed.
This cruel act was fueled by Basil’s suspicion that his son Leo orchestrated the incident to ascend to the throne as quickly as possible. Ultimately, Basil succumbed to a fever resulting from his severe injuries. His death marked the end of a tumultuous personality who brought about legal reforms and military successes, despite his murderous past.
Related: The Alcoholic Byzantine Emperor Who Ruled the Empire Surprisingly Well
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
