Leo VI the Wise

Leo VI, also called Leo the Wise, was a Byzantine Emperor from 886 to 912. He was born on September 19, 866, and died on May 11, 912. He was called “the Wise” because he read and learned a lot.

Leo was the second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty, though it is not fully known how he was linked to the dynasty’s founders.

During Leo’s time as emperor, many books and writings were created, continuing a period of learning that started with his predecessor, Basil I. However, the empire had some difficult moments. Soldiers from Bulgaria were successful in the Balkans, and fighters from Arabia were successful in places like Sicily and the Aegean.

Leo’s rule also marked the end of some very old Roman customs. For example, the role of Roman consul was no longer used separately during his time. Despite these challenges, Leo is remembered for his love of learning and the many books produced during his rule.

Early life

Leo was born on 19 September 866 to the empress Eudokia Ingerina. He grew up when the royal family was changing a lot. Leo might be the child of Emperor Michael III or the second son of Basil I the Macedonian. In 867, Michael was killed by Basil, who became emperor. Leo became a possible future emperor in 870. His older brother died in 879. Leo and Basil did not get along well, especially after Leo's unhappy marriage. Basil died in a hunting accident in 886.

Domestic policy

After becoming emperor, Leo VI held a big ceremony to rebury the remains of Michael III in the imperial mausoleum inside the Church of the Holy Apostles. He worked to gain support from important people in the capital and brought in trusted helpers like Stylianos Zaoutzes and the eunuch Samonas.

Leo sometimes had troubles with powerful families, like the Phokadai and the Doukai.

Leo tried to help with church matters by replacing leaders. He dismissed Patriarch Photios and put his young brother Stephen in charge, but after Stephen’s death, he changed leaders again. During his rule, the beautiful Church of Agios Lazaros in Larnaca was built, and Leo finished updating the laws, known as the Basilika, which began under Justinian I.

Stories tell of Leo secretly walking through Constantinople. Guards stopped him three times. The first two let him go after small bribes, but the third arrested him. The jailer recognized him the next day and let him go. Leo praised the officer who arrested him for doing his job right and punished the others.

Foreign policy

Leo VI had some successes and some failures in his wars. He followed the advice of his main advisor, which led to a war with Simeon I of Bulgaria in 894, but Leo lost this fight. With help from the Magyars, he won back some land in 895. However, without his allies, Leo lost a big battle in 896 and had to agree to pay Bulgaria.

Leo won a battle in 900 against the Emirate of Tarsus, capturing their leader. But in the west, the Emirate of Sicily took over Taormina, the last Byzantine place on the island of Sicily, in 902. Leo tried to protect his lands by creating a new area called Mesopotamia, invading Armenia in 902, and attacking Theodosiopolis. He also carried out successful attacks in areas controlled by Arab forces.

In 904, a leader named Leo of Tripolis and his group attacked and damaged Thessalonica. An effort to take back Crete in 911–912 did not succeed. During this time, new areas were set up to guard against attacks. In 907, leaders from Kievan Rus' under Oleg of Novgorod attacked Constantinople seeking better trade deals. Leo paid them to leave, but they attacked again in 911, and finally, a trade agreement was made.

Marriages

Leo VI had a problem because he did not have a proper heir to the throne. His first wife Theophano died, and so did his second wife Zoe Zaoutzaina. His third wife Eudokia Baïana also passed away. Instead of marrying a fourth time, which was not allowed, Leo took a partner Zoe Karbonopsina. She later had their son in 905, and they married after that. This caused some disagreement, but the church eventually allowed the marriage with some conditions.

Succession

Leo VI was succeeded by his younger brother Alexander. Alexander ruled with his father and brother since 879. He ruled for thirteen months and then passed away.

Constantine became emperor after him. While Constantine was still young, one of his regents became co-emperor as Romanos I. Romanos married his daughter to Constantine. After Constantine died in 959, their son became emperor as Romanos II.

Works

Leo VI was a good writer who made many books about different topics. He gave important speeches in churches and wrote books about laws. One of his biggest books was called the Basilika. It put many old laws into six big books. He also wrote new laws called "Novels" to help solve problems.

Leo also wrote about how the government should work and made rules for traders. Later, people thought he could tell the future and made poems and texts with his name on them. He helped bring important religious items to Constantinople and wrote special songs for church services.

Family

Leo VI had children with four different wives. His first wife was Theophano Martinakia, and they had a daughter named Eudokia. She passed away in 892. His second wife was Zoe Zaoutzaina, and they had a daughter named Anna of Constantinople. Anna later married Louis the Blind, the Holy Roman Emperor. With his third wife, Eudokia Baïana, Leo VI had a son named Basil, who lived only a few days. His fourth wife was Zoe Karbonopsina, and they had two children: Anna and Constantine VII.