Macedonian dynasty

The Macedonian dynasty (Greek: Μακεδονική δυναστεία) ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056, following the Amorian dynasty. During this period, the Byzantine state reached its greatest expanse since the Muslim conquests, and the Macedonian Renaissance in letters and arts began. The dynasty was named after its founder, Basil I the Macedonian, who was descended from the theme of Macedonia (the theme was actually located in the region of Thrace, and had no relation with the geographical region of Macedonia). The dynasty's founder and many subsequent emperors were of Armenian descent, hence the dynasty is also referred to by some authors as the Armenian Dynasty.^[1]

List of rulers

• Basil I the Macedonian (Βασίλειος Α') (811–886, ruled 867–886) - married the Varangian Eudokia Ingerina, mistress of Michael III; died in hunting accident (Origin: Armenian, born in the Theme of Macedonia)
• Leo VI the Wise (Λέων ΣΤ' ο Σοφός) (866–912, ruled 886–912) – son of Eudokia Ingerina, legal son and heir of Basil I; possibly the natural son of Michael III
• Alexander (Αλέξανδρος) (870–913, ruled 912–913) – son of Basil I, regent for nephew
• Constantine VII the Purple-born (Κωνσταντίνος Ζ' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (905-959, ruled 913 - 959) – son of Leo VI
• Romanos I Lekapenos (Ρωμανός Α' ο Λεκαπηνός) (870–948, ruled 919–944) – father-in-law of Constantine VII; co-emperor, attempted to found his own dynasty. Deposed by his sons and entered monastery (Origin: Armenian)
• Romanos II the Purple-born (Ρωμανός Β' ο Πορφυρογέννητος) (938–963, ruled 959–963) – son of Constantine VII
• Nikephoros II Phocas (Νικηφόρος Β' Φωκάς ή Νικηφόρος Β' ο Φωκάς) (912–969, ruled 963–969) – successful general, married Romanos II's widow, regent for Basil; assassinated (Origin: Cappadocian)
• John I Tzimiskes (Ιωάννης Α' Κουρκούας ο Τσιμισκής) (925-976, ruled 969–976) – successful general, brother-in-law of Romanos II, lover of Nikephoros's wife but banned from marriage, regent for Basil II and Constantine VIII (Origin: Armenian)
• Basil II the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β' ο Βουλγαροκτόνος) (958–1025, ruled 976–1025) – son of Romanos II
• Constantine VIII (Κωνσταντίνος Η')(960-1028, ruled 1025–1028) – son of Romanos II; silent co-emperor with Basil II, sole emperor after his brother's death
• Zoe (Ζωή) (c. 978–1050, ruled 1028–1050) – daughter of Constantine VIII
• Romanos III Argyros (Ρωμανός Γ' ο Αργυρός) (968–1034, ruled 1028–1034) – eparch of Constantinople; Zoe's first husband, arranged by Constantine VIII; murdered
• Michael IV the Paphlagonian (Μιχαήλ Δ' ο Παφλαγών) (1010–1041, ruled 1034–1041) – Zoe's second husband
• Michael V the Caulker (Μιχαήλ Ε' ο Καλαφάτης) (1015–1042, ruled 1041–1042) – Michael IV's nephew, Zoe's adopted son
• Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (980–1056, ruled 1042) – daughter of Constantine VIII, co-empress with Zoe
• Constantine IX Monomachos (Κωνσταντίνος Θ' ο Μονομάχος) (1000–1055, ruled 1042–1055) – Zoe's third husband
• Theodora (Θεοδώρα) (ruled 1055–1056) – restored

Non-dynastic

• Michael VI (Μιχαήλ ΣΤ' ο Στρατιωτικός) (ruled 1056–1057) – chosen by Theodora; deposed and entered monastery

Family tree

• Basil I the Macedonian (813–886)
  • from his marriage to Maria:
    • Constantine (865–878), co-emperor with his father
    • Anastasia
  • from his marriage to empress Eudokia Ingerina:
    • Leo VI the Wise (866–912)
      • Eudokia (died 892)
      • Anna
      • Basil (died 900)
      • Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (905–959), married Helena Lekapene, daughter of Romanos I Lekapenos
        • Romanos II (938–963)
          • childless by his marriage to Bertha of Italy
          • from his marriage to Theophano:
            • Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer (957–1025)
            • Constantine VIII (961–1028)
              • Eudokia
              • Zoe (980–1050), married:
                1. Romanos III Argyros (ca. 968–1034)
                2. Michael IV the Paphlagonian (1015–1042)
                3. Constantine IX Monomachos (ca. 1000–1055)
              • Theodora (980–1056)
            • Anna the Porphyrogennete (963–1011), married Vladimir I of Kiev
        • Agathe
        • Maria (Irene), married Peter I of Bulgaria
        • Theodora, married John I Tzimiskes
    • Alexander (870–913)
    • Stephen I (870–893), Patriarch of Constantinople

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Macedonian dynasty

• Byzantium under the Macedonians

References