Michael V, Byzantine Emperor.

He decides to eliminate Zoe and Theodora shortly after coming to the throne. They are perhaps poisoned, and given their advanced ages, perhaps no one suspects how they really died. Does eliminating the last representatives of the Macedonian dynasty secure him on the throne?
 

Sargon

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He decides to eliminate Zoe and Theodora shortly after coming to the throne. They are perhaps poisoned, and given their advanced ages, perhaps no one suspects how they really died. Does eliminating the last representatives of the Macedonian dynasty secure him on the throne?

It got him deposed OTL when he messed with Zoe. Still, it would have been interesting to see what his reign would have been like if left uninterrupted. There's evidence that although he was radically minded, he might have been a reasonable ruler, and his radical plans may have made a difference at a crucial time.

The problem is to knock off Zoe without any suspicion, and that's not easy, since even if she dies naturally, she is so loved by the people, that's he's going to suffer some dislike.

Poison probably isn't the way to go unless he gets someone he can completely trust and the true method of death is unnoticeable. If you have her die of natural causes with witnesses present who are known to be close to her, then the people are more likely to be less hostile. Still, even if he does poison her, and gets away with it, it is a much better move than his actions OTL.

He'd better have a fair few extra loyal troops in the capital though, just in case the son of the caulker has an uprising on his hands just as in OTL.


Sargon
 
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