Prologue:
September 23rd/24th, 867 AD:
Michael III had retired to his chambers after a serious drinking bout with his lover Eudokia Ingerina, his sister Thekla and and his new co-emperor, Basil the Macedonian. But recently he had been troubled by matters of the church - mainly his deposition of Patriarch Ignatios, who still had supporters inside the empire, even in Constantinople. (POD) In a moment of drunken boldness, Michael added an additional lock on the inside of his bedroom door and posted four Excubitors outside, ordering two of them to remain concealed.
Later that night, Michael was roused from his sleep by the guards, who had captured four people outside the door who tried to force their way in. Michael was shaken to the core when he got a good look. Standing with swords and daggers at their feet were John of Chaldea, a minor noble, Basil, his brother Marinos, their father Bardas, and Basil's cousin Alyeon. Michael had the guards take them to the dungeon, curtly saying he would decide what to do with them later. After three days, Michael finally sentenced the conspirators. John of Chaldea was sentenced to house arrest and a fine of a hundred solidi. All members of Basil's family were removed from positions of power, Bardas was tonsured, Marinos castrated and Basil blinded. The emperor sent his sister Thekla back to the monastary, charged with adultery and turned his attention to his wife and mistress, both named Eudokia, Eudokia Ingerina now heavily pregnant. Michael still held affection for Ingerina but was unsure of her part in the attempt on his life, whereas Eudokia Dekapolitissa, his legal wife, had comforted him while he mulled over Basil's fate.
The next month, Eudokia Ingerina gave birth to a boy. Michael named him Stephen, but was unsure whether the child was his or Basil's, the same situation as Ingerina's last child, Leo*. Michael eventually decided to raise both of them as his sons, but decided to wait and see if his current marriage proved fruitless before fully legitimizing them. Michael's rationale for adopting Leo and Stephen was that Jesus was the son of God, but raised by Joseph, a mere carpenter, and look how well he turned out. Michael then turned his attention to the empire he had long neglected...
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POD: IOTL, the locks were tampered with and no guards were present, giving the assassins easy entrance.
*: History is uncertain whether Leo and Stephen were the children of Michael or Basil. Basil hated both of them, had Stephen castrated and planned to blind Leo after the death of his eldest son, Constantine. I personally believe both of them were Basil's children, but for the purposes of TTL, I've decided to make them both Michael's sons, biological or otherwise.
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The last emperor of the Phrygian/Amorian dynasty, Michael III 'the Drunkard', has been immortalized as a drunken, impious wastrel and playboy, especially compared to his successor and murderer, Basil I, founder of the famous Macedonian dynasty. But recently, his reputation has been vindicated.
To me, Michael III was an emperor who had yet to reach his full potential, and I really hate seeing wasted potential.
And I know I promised a TLIAM featuring Romanos IV, but my mind often wanders from idea to idea. If I can complete this by the end of the month, I'll have a go at writing the Manzikert TLIAM in November. But for now, enjoy this TL as it comes! Comments are always welcome!
September 23rd/24th, 867 AD:
Michael III had retired to his chambers after a serious drinking bout with his lover Eudokia Ingerina, his sister Thekla and and his new co-emperor, Basil the Macedonian. But recently he had been troubled by matters of the church - mainly his deposition of Patriarch Ignatios, who still had supporters inside the empire, even in Constantinople. (POD) In a moment of drunken boldness, Michael added an additional lock on the inside of his bedroom door and posted four Excubitors outside, ordering two of them to remain concealed.
Later that night, Michael was roused from his sleep by the guards, who had captured four people outside the door who tried to force their way in. Michael was shaken to the core when he got a good look. Standing with swords and daggers at their feet were John of Chaldea, a minor noble, Basil, his brother Marinos, their father Bardas, and Basil's cousin Alyeon. Michael had the guards take them to the dungeon, curtly saying he would decide what to do with them later. After three days, Michael finally sentenced the conspirators. John of Chaldea was sentenced to house arrest and a fine of a hundred solidi. All members of Basil's family were removed from positions of power, Bardas was tonsured, Marinos castrated and Basil blinded. The emperor sent his sister Thekla back to the monastary, charged with adultery and turned his attention to his wife and mistress, both named Eudokia, Eudokia Ingerina now heavily pregnant. Michael still held affection for Ingerina but was unsure of her part in the attempt on his life, whereas Eudokia Dekapolitissa, his legal wife, had comforted him while he mulled over Basil's fate.
The next month, Eudokia Ingerina gave birth to a boy. Michael named him Stephen, but was unsure whether the child was his or Basil's, the same situation as Ingerina's last child, Leo*. Michael eventually decided to raise both of them as his sons, but decided to wait and see if his current marriage proved fruitless before fully legitimizing them. Michael's rationale for adopting Leo and Stephen was that Jesus was the son of God, but raised by Joseph, a mere carpenter, and look how well he turned out. Michael then turned his attention to the empire he had long neglected...
__________________________________________________
POD: IOTL, the locks were tampered with and no guards were present, giving the assassins easy entrance.
*: History is uncertain whether Leo and Stephen were the children of Michael or Basil. Basil hated both of them, had Stephen castrated and planned to blind Leo after the death of his eldest son, Constantine. I personally believe both of them were Basil's children, but for the purposes of TTL, I've decided to make them both Michael's sons, biological or otherwise.
__________________________________________________
The last emperor of the Phrygian/Amorian dynasty, Michael III 'the Drunkard', has been immortalized as a drunken, impious wastrel and playboy, especially compared to his successor and murderer, Basil I, founder of the famous Macedonian dynasty. But recently, his reputation has been vindicated.
To me, Michael III was an emperor who had yet to reach his full potential, and I really hate seeing wasted potential.
And I know I promised a TLIAM featuring Romanos IV, but my mind often wanders from idea to idea. If I can complete this by the end of the month, I'll have a go at writing the Manzikert TLIAM in November. But for now, enjoy this TL as it comes! Comments are always welcome!
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Great TL, keep up the good work.