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My first byzantine WI! Anyway, I was playing CKII recently and it got me thinking about the Macedonian House. Arguably they were one of, if not the Greatest dynasty Byzantium ever had. However, they were also one of the only dynasties to go extinct rather then be overthrown. This was because Basil II didn't marry or produce children and Constantine VIII only had daughters, who weren't allowed to marry. Now I can understand why they would be reluctant to associate a noble male with the Imperial House, as at least 3 generals had usurped the throne during their dynastic reign, not to mention at least dozen attempts by generals to claim the throne. However once it became obvious that neither co-Emperor could produce a son, they should have married one of Constantine VIII's daughters off to produce the next generation of their house.
So what if Empress Zoe, or one of her sisters, had be allowed to marry when they could still produce children? Was there anyone whom either Basil II or Constantine VIII (or both) could trust to marry an Imperial Princess and not try to claim the throne? Perhaps a trusted army subordinate or a member of the Court aristocracy? Or would a "Barbarian" Prince be better, like someone from Hungary or vassal Armenia? Basically who would these Princesses be married to safely?