Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium, episode 124, a Roman story.

Alexander, brother of Leo VI, became senior Roman Emperor on the 11th of May 912 AD.

He was 41 years old and had waited all his life in the shadows of the palace.

Now it was his time.

13 months later he was dead.

What followed was a six year game of musical chairs to establish who the new Vassilefs would be.

The shifts in alliance and backroom deals which follow are Byzantine in their detail.

They are a fine example of how that term gained its modern meaning.

So please stand up.

When the music starts, walk slowly to your left in a circle and when the music stops, well you know what to do.

Alexander was the youngest son of Basil the Macedonian.

There was no question about his paternity.

Sadly though as the junior brother he spent his life kept away from any semblance of power or authority.

For 30 years he was hailed as emperor but the words had a hollow ring.

His short time on the throne means we know very little about him and various slanders against his character have no counterpoint.

We are forced to provide our own.

We are told that he over indulged in life's pleasures.

But for a man forced to live in luxury with no formal political role this isn't a huge surprise.

He is accused of sacking all of Leo's fine ministers and replacing them with unworthy men.

Again it is entirely understandable that Alexander would want to surround himself with those loyal to him.

And their worthiness is hard to judge given the brevity of their time in office.

We are also told that he dabbled in magic or pagan activities.

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