alternatehistory.com

Title says all. If I've been going overboard with Byzantine-specific threads, don't worry, this will be the last one for a while.

1. Michael III was the last Byzantine emperor of the Amorian/Phrygian dynasty. During his reign, he sponsored the missions of Cyril & Methodios, saw the conversion of the Bulgars to Orthodox Christianity and was described by Arab sources as an active and successful commander. He met his end when he was assassinated on the orders of Basil I, founder of the Macedonian dynasty.

OTL, he had no children by his wife, Eudokia Dekapolitissa, and two children by his mistress Eudokia Ingerina - the future Leo VI 'the Wise' and Patriarch Stephen I. To avoid a scandal, he married Eudokia Ingerina off to Basil. If Dekapolitissa dies, would he be able to marry Ingerina? Would he still be in danger from Basil?

2. Michael VIII Palaiologos died in 1282 and was succeeded by his eldest son Andronikos II, who was a... less than impressive emperor. What if Andronikos ended up dying before Michael VIII? Would he be succeeded by his second son, Constantine, or his grandson, OTL Michael IX? Would the Byzantine Empire still be on the downward spiral?
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