Previously, on the history of Byzantium, Constantine VII died peacefully in 959, having spent

much of his life under the thumb of Romanos Lecapinos, he was comforted in his last moments

that his son would not have to endure the same fate. Sadly, for the Puferoianitas, four

years later, his grandsons would be plunged into the exact same scenario. First, Nysephara's focus

and then John Zimiskees took control of the government and kept the princes in the shadows.

On his way home from campaign in 975, John became ill and died early the next year.

Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium, Episode 150, Basil Lecapinos.

We began this podcast century with a power struggle between generals, admirals, patriarchs and

the Empress, all trying to exert control over the young Constantine VII. For the next 15 years

of narrative, we return to this internal conflict as a new cast of characters

vie for the right to dominate the Macedonian dynasty. This power struggle is not limited to the

battle between the palace and its leading generals, there is conflict within the court as well.

When John died, there was an obvious tension between his extended family and the Macedonian

princes. Basil and Constantine were now old enough to exercise power for themselves,

but John's circle had already begun to think of themselves as imperial heirs.

The plot thickens when we consider who John's chief minister was, Basil Lecapinos,

the man who had served both focus and Zimiskees, but was also the princes' great uncle.

When John died, it was the unit who was in charge of the government and had the power to decide

who would rule next. But as so many figures have decided over the centuries,

why choose at all? Why shouldn't I continue to hold the reins?

Basil's date of birth is unknown. His mother was a barbarian concubine,

so to be kind to Romanus Lecapinos will assume it was after the death of his wife in 922.

...