Baaaasil II

What would be the results for the Byzantines if Basil II managed to successfully start his reign, without being overthrown, but without going into EPIC mode?

I.E, had a reign like his brother, Constantine.
 
Um, you're going to need to be a bit more specific than that. You just going to handwave the Skleroi and Phokades and Kometopouloi away?
 
Let's assume he manages to defeat them but then doesn't... do anything productive for the rest of his reign.

That's quite a difficult thing to assume.

But, basically, he spends his life being dominated by other generals- Nikephoros Ouranos, perhaps. Imperial expansion likely remains focused on the East, and Bulgaria perhaps properly re-establishes herself. Weak Emperors didn't stop expansion in the past, and I don't think a sluggish Basil II will do so here.
 
Sooner or later another member of that established eastern aristocracy is going to raise another rebellion against him. This is especially assured if he allows one of them the glory of a series of successful campaigns, thereby recreating the events that allowed a man like Nikephoros Phokas to come into power in the first place.

Additionally: the aforementioned possibility quite aptly explains why Basil II was so hostile towards them in the first place, IRL.
 
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