I was thinking about the Isaurian dynasty the other day and I came up with a new POD.
Constantine VI, son of Leo IV and Eirene of Athens, had two daughters by his first wife, Maria of Amnia, before he divorced her and married his mistress, Theodote. By her, he had two sons. The first, Leo, was born in 796 and died in May 797, before his father's deposition. Theodore the Studite mentions a second son born after Constantine's imprisonment, but no further information is known.
How different would things have turned out if young Leo had survived? Eirene may or may not groom him to be her successor, but since she did nothing with her granddaughters, it's easy to see she would do the same here. Basically, I can see three scenarios:
1. Leo ends up mutilated and/or killed by Eirene.
2. Leo is spared by Eirene but ends up mutilated and/or killed by Nikephoros the Logothete when Eirene is deposed.
3. Leo is spared by Eirene and placed on the throne when Eirene is deposed, with Nikephoros either acting as the power behind the throne or becoming co-emperor ala Romanos Lekapenos, marrying one of his granddaughters to Leo as a bonus.
Any thoughts?
Constantine VI, son of Leo IV and Eirene of Athens, had two daughters by his first wife, Maria of Amnia, before he divorced her and married his mistress, Theodote. By her, he had two sons. The first, Leo, was born in 796 and died in May 797, before his father's deposition. Theodore the Studite mentions a second son born after Constantine's imprisonment, but no further information is known.
How different would things have turned out if young Leo had survived? Eirene may or may not groom him to be her successor, but since she did nothing with her granddaughters, it's easy to see she would do the same here. Basically, I can see three scenarios:
1. Leo ends up mutilated and/or killed by Eirene.
2. Leo is spared by Eirene but ends up mutilated and/or killed by Nikephoros the Logothete when Eirene is deposed.
3. Leo is spared by Eirene and placed on the throne when Eirene is deposed, with Nikephoros either acting as the power behind the throne or becoming co-emperor ala Romanos Lekapenos, marrying one of his granddaughters to Leo as a bonus.
Any thoughts?
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