As great as Basil 2s reign and administration was. He blew it on succession! Constantine 8s daughters ended up blowing the treasury in the subsequent 30 years! Well done as always!
I find it interesting that Theodora was seen as "not so attractive" yet "intelligent and well read". In the classical greek world, if i recall, intelligence went hand in hand with physical beauty.
Well also, the panegyrics produced claim that ALL the men and women they speak of were physically handsome/beautiful for rhetorical reasons. Really impossible to tell through the topoi.
The experiences of the macedonian boys during the 970s-80s were very important for not only the history of Byzantium but on the history of the world as a whole
This reminds me of Queen Elizabeth's procrastination of succession. Both her and Basil went thru alot to get to their majority and rule in their own right. I think Basil always having Constantine there fed into this. And they must have been close and trustworthy of each other! Many brothers of Emperors did not have as good as Constantine 8.
Doesn't seem the same at all, because there is no question of finding a successor out of the lineage. Even people who wish that Prince Charles would abdicate in advance of Her Majesty's death (happy birthday, Elizabeth, by the way) only do so because they prefer her grandson/his grandson, who is next in line. Yes, we are waiting for the transition, and wondering how it will feel, but we are not wondering who it will be, as both candidates are well known to everyone. Given how it feels to watch the queen's decline with security of what will happen next, I can only imagine the anxiety and anger as Constantine prepared to succumb.
Even after 2 years I’m back here complaining about Constantine not having a son lol, even if he married the exact year Basil died, he could have had a son by the time of his death or a daughter, either way a child would have solved everything, even if the kid was 1 years old when Constantine died. His or her older sisters could have been the at since they couldn’t have children. It really would’ve solved everything
Nerva had one job, and he performed it with admirable competence. Admittedly he was much less burdened with personal grudges and trauma than Constantine VIII.
I think a cool idea for Basil II would've been to foster a young kid from the Anatolian nobility and raise him as a Macedonian in the Royal Palace, then he'll grow up as a Macedonian in all but blood. Or form a lifelong relationship to a powerful adult noble and pass your throne to him.
Really nice video. While it is sad to see them go and it will be disastrous for the Empire, the epilogue of the Macedonians were the Komnenoi. I really hope that you do Alexios I Komnenos justice as he was instrumental in stabilizing Byzantium after Manzikert.
Constantine did help Basil filling in for him when he was busy in his never ending campaigns. Remember they faced challengers to the throne for more than twenty years. Later good rulers lacked this luxury, having someone they trusted behind... Basically, after these two rulers, Roman history until 1453 is a continuous civil war but for few exceptions.
Why didn’t Constantine keep going till he had a son? Ik it must have been exhausting for his wife but this is for the greater good of the empire and would avoid civil wars.
I'm interested in the history of Chariot racing in Byzantium and I'm curious you made a reference to Constantine the 8th liking or indulging in racing. This is prefer to horseback racing or Chariot racing? And was he actually a participant or spectator?
This got me think of "Five Good" Emperors and how the Byzantines didn't seem to adopt adult sons? When did the Romans stop doing adult adoptions and was there a particular reason for it?
I could be off but i think Marcus Aurelius was among the first to promote a biological son to the throne. I do find some merit to this, tbh. In the Byzantine Empire, it was fairly common to make the male heir as co-emperor as soon as possible. But in the case of Constantine VIII... i think he just did not have enough time to find a male heir suitable enough. He did kick the bucket just a few years after he became emperor, and his daughters were a tad bit old by that point also. I did read somewhere Zoe tried her damnest to not let the dynasty die. Pity she did not succeed. My understanding would be that... just like in the case of Basil II... they did not trust anyone other than themselves to hold the power. They feared betrayal. And they feared that if one aristocratic family would be "favored" through an adoption, the other families would be upset and start a civil war because of it. After all, i think an emperor was (sort of) elected by the senate, the patriarch, and the nobility?(not sure on this last one but i know of 3 sides needing to approve an emperor, and having a biological heir sort of skipped all this by default).
Thersites, was there any evidence to suggest whether or not Constantine VIII continued Basil's policy of favoring small landholders over the military aristocracy? I know this had been a strong tradition among the Macedonian emperors and Basil II was the most ardent proponent of this policy. If Constantine ditched this policy, then I would imagine it would have dire consequences for the empire in the long-term.
What if Basil II was castrated in secret and nobody realized it ??? This could an explanation for his brother accepting this arrangement in peace, knowing it will never be betrayed by his eunuch emperor and brother. Why didn't Constantine try to have a old age baby ?
I thought it was Theodora the last Macedonian? I mean, arent Romanos III, Micherl IV, Michel V and Constantine IX considered as part of the Macedonian dynastie?
I think it had more to do with the decline of the army and the increased employment of mercenaries. Also I think you can partly blame Isaac for handing the throne over to Constantine Doukas when he had his brother and nephews as possible heirs
@@nervachadikus these things you mention are directly tied to the weakening of the eastern families. As the frontier was expanded to Syria and Mesopotamia the solider farmers of Anatolia became farmers due to the security and the security brought prosperity that led to mercenary use. The eastern families had the loyalty of the solider farmers and when they no longer were gaining booty due to their lords such as the doukas they had no loyalty to Constantinople or any other aspect of Byzantine administration which I believe explains the easy Turkish annexations as this class didn’t care because they were only ever loyal to the eastern families who were politically neutered in these later Basil years
Romanos Argyros is the last in the series so there's wuite a gap between the two to be filled, we should expect the Michaels and Constantine Monomachos next
As great as Basil 2s reign and administration was. He blew it on succession! Constantine 8s daughters ended up blowing the treasury in the subsequent 30 years! Well done as always!
I find it interesting that Theodora was seen as "not so attractive" yet "intelligent and well read". In the classical greek world, if i recall, intelligence went hand in hand with physical beauty.
Well also, the panegyrics produced claim that ALL the men and women they speak of were physically handsome/beautiful for rhetorical reasons. Really impossible to tell through the topoi.
Because she's outshined by her sister Zoe I believe.
In the case of Hypatia her students were still praising her beauty at the time she was murdered when she was well into her 60s.
The experiences of the macedonian boys during the 970s-80s were very important for not only the history of Byzantium but on the history of the world as a whole
Poor Constatine, short and obscure reign that could've change byzantine history. Life is crazy sometimes
This reminds me of Queen Elizabeth's procrastination of succession. Both her and Basil went thru alot to get to their majority and rule in their own right. I think Basil always having Constantine there fed into this. And they must have been close and trustworthy of each other! Many brothers of Emperors did not have as good as Constantine 8.
Doesn't seem the same at all, because there is no question of finding a successor out of the lineage. Even people who wish that Prince Charles would abdicate in advance of Her Majesty's death (happy birthday, Elizabeth, by the way) only do so because they prefer her grandson/his grandson, who is next in line. Yes, we are waiting for the transition, and wondering how it will feel, but we are not wondering who it will be, as both candidates are well known to everyone.
Given how it feels to watch the queen's decline with security of what will happen next, I can only imagine the anxiety and anger as Constantine prepared to succumb.
@@kskssxoxskskss2189 I think he was talking about the first Elizabeth. She died unmarried and childless, dooming the house of Tudor.
Even after 2 years I’m back here complaining about Constantine not having a son lol, even if he married the exact year Basil died, he could have had a son by the time of his death or a daughter, either way a child would have solved everything, even if the kid was 1 years old when Constantine died. His or her older sisters could have been the at since they couldn’t have children. It really would’ve solved everything
the appointment of Argyros reminds me lot of Nerva, although what happened afterwards was a lot less successfull
Nerva had one job, and he performed it with admirable competence.
Admittedly he was much less burdened with personal grudges and trauma than Constantine VIII.
I think a cool idea for Basil II would've been to foster a young kid from the Anatolian nobility and raise him as a Macedonian in the Royal Palace, then he'll grow up as a Macedonian in all but blood. Or form a lifelong relationship to a powerful adult noble and pass your throne to him.
Can we all just press an F for the Macedonian dynasty really quick in the chat
What does F stand for, though? XD
F
@@ilduce4298 F for "fantastic", right?
@@ragael1024 It means to pay respects, in this case F for the Macedonian dynasty means RIP Macedonian dynasty
F
Really nice video.
While it is sad to see them go and it will be disastrous for the Empire, the epilogue of the Macedonians were the Komnenoi.
I really hope that you do Alexios I Komnenos justice as he was instrumental in stabilizing Byzantium after Manzikert.
I was really looking forward for continuing of the series . Well done and looking forward for the next ones !
Constantine did help Basil filling in for him when he was busy in his never ending campaigns. Remember they faced challengers to the throne for more than twenty years. Later good rulers lacked this luxury, having someone they trusted behind... Basically, after these two rulers, Roman history until 1453 is a continuous civil war but for few exceptions.
Yey! Obscure Byzantine Emperor video!
Is there any cultural thing that makes Greeks never having kids it seams like every other emperor has problems with lack of sons
Honestly Constantine seems like a really good brother. Had Basils back when he needed it most
Why didn’t Constantine keep going till he had a son? Ik it must have been exhausting for his wife but this is for the greater good of the empire and would avoid civil wars.
I'm interested in the history of Chariot racing in Byzantium and I'm curious you made a reference to Constantine the 8th liking or indulging in racing. This is prefer to horseback racing or Chariot racing? And was he actually a participant or spectator?
Definitely a participant at least when he was younger.
He was very energetic and physically fit.
This got me think of "Five Good" Emperors and how the Byzantines didn't seem to adopt adult sons? When did the Romans stop doing adult adoptions and was there a particular reason for it?
I could be off but i think Marcus Aurelius was among the first to promote a biological son to the throne. I do find some merit to this, tbh. In the Byzantine Empire, it was fairly common to make the male heir as co-emperor as soon as possible. But in the case of Constantine VIII... i think he just did not have enough time to find a male heir suitable enough. He did kick the bucket just a few years after he became emperor, and his daughters were a tad bit old by that point also. I did read somewhere Zoe tried her damnest to not let the dynasty die. Pity she did not succeed. My understanding would be that... just like in the case of Basil II... they did not trust anyone other than themselves to hold the power. They feared betrayal. And they feared that if one aristocratic family would be "favored" through an adoption, the other families would be upset and start a civil war because of it. After all, i think an emperor was (sort of) elected by the senate, the patriarch, and the nobility?(not sure on this last one but i know of 3 sides needing to approve an emperor, and having a biological heir sort of skipped all this by default).
To be honest, Basil and Constantines childhood would’ve been scarring
One of the chapters is "Governing Style suffered from gout", you might want to fix that.
Thersites, was there any evidence to suggest whether or not Constantine VIII continued Basil's policy of favoring small landholders over the military aristocracy?
I know this had been a strong tradition among the Macedonian emperors and Basil II was the most ardent proponent of this policy. If Constantine ditched this policy, then I would imagine it would have dire consequences for the empire in the long-term.
What if Basil II was castrated in secret and nobody realized it ???
This could an explanation for his brother accepting this arrangement in peace, knowing it will never be betrayed by his eunuch emperor and brother.
Why didn't Constantine try to have a old age baby ?
I thought it was Theodora the last Macedonian? I mean, arent Romanos III, Micherl IV, Michel V and Constantine IX considered as part of the Macedonian dynastie?
Was the weakening of the eastern houses a key part in the disintegration of Anatolia post manzikert? Or was it too far removed to make an impact
I think it had more to do with the decline of the army and the increased employment of mercenaries. Also I think you can partly blame Isaac for handing the throne over to Constantine Doukas when he had his brother and nephews as possible heirs
@@nervachadikus these things you mention are directly tied to the weakening of the eastern families. As the frontier was expanded to Syria and Mesopotamia the solider farmers of Anatolia became farmers due to the security and the security brought prosperity that led to mercenary use. The eastern families had the loyalty of the solider farmers and when they no longer were gaining booty due to their lords such as the doukas they had no loyalty to Constantinople or any other aspect of Byzantine administration which I believe explains the easy Turkish annexations as this class didn’t care because they were only ever loyal to the eastern families who were politically neutered in these later Basil years
@@ChevyChase301 Abres
I completely by your theory of an agreement, shame about the daughter's
Michael The Paphlagonian. Interesting guy.
Good show old chap
This was the only bad thing that Basil II had done.
Will you ever do a video on Alexios Komnenos?
Not yet until 1081 ad
Romanos Argyros is the last in the series so there's wuite a gap between the two to be filled, we should expect the Michaels and Constantine Monomachos next
I'm crying
What makes you think Constantine was more intelligent than Basil?
F for the Macedonians
They're really Amorians
@@jkelsey555 technically yes but still
interesting like usual, but point really should always be that kings ruined rome xd. Less educated people trying to do politics and war.
Any thought this man was gay?
👍👍👍