WI Emperor Leo VI has a heir by 890?

In OTL Emperor Leo VI married his first wife Theophano Martiniakos in 883 according to the wishes of his father.
In 890 Theophano gave birth to a girl named Eudokia but the child was sickly and died 2 years later while Theophano retired to a convent.
Leo VI had to marry 4 times causing a major scandalin the Church in order to get the desired heir in 905 only to die prematurely in 912 leaving the Empire to his 7 year old son who was a pawn in th hands of various regents...

WI Theophano gave birth to a healthy boy in 890 instead of a sickly girl (lets call him Basil)?
So with his heir secured Leo VI wouldnt have to cause a scandal in the Church and when he dies in 912 he would be succeeded by his 22 year old son and rule without regency...

How is this twist affects History?
 
Quite significantly. No Romanus II, no Constantine VII.

Depends a lot on what this *Basil II is like, thus.
 
Quite significantly. No Romanus II, no Constantine VII.

Depends a lot on what this *Basil II is like, thus.

Also no usurpation by Romanus Lekapenus...

Well if Leo VI supervises his education pesonally i believe that he would be a good administrator but not well educated in the army...
 
Also no usurpation by Romanus Lekapenus...

Well if Leo VI supervises his education pesonally i believe that he would be a good administrator but not well educated in the army...

Interesting possibilities to explore there. What kind of person do you suppose he would be?

Like his father? Like OTL Constantine VII anyway? Something else entirely? And who does he marry (assuming he's married by the time of his father's death)?
 
Interesting possibilities to explore there. What kind of person do you suppose he would be?

Like his father? Like OTL Constantine VII anyway? Something else entirely? And who does he marry (assuming he's married by the time of his father's death)?

Leo VI was married to Theophano when 16 so i guess that he would have married him off by 905-906... Certainly by 912 he would be married since Leo VI was dying of stomach cancer by then...
A Bulgarian princess could be a suitable bride for him in order to please Symeon... Or a Roman Princess maybe from Phokas or Skleros (doubt it since under Leo VI Skleros family were in disgrace) or Doukas or Maleinos families.
 
Leo VI was married to Theophano when 16 so i guess that he would have married him off by 905-906... Certainly by 912 he would be married since Leo VI was dying of stomach cancer by then...
A Bulgarian princess could be a suitable bride for him in order to please Symeon... Or a Roman Princess maybe from Phokas or Skleros (doubt it since under Leo VI Skleros family were in disgrace) or Doukas or Maleinos families.

Ew, the Ducas. :eek:

Anyone but that consistently-treacherous family.
 
Ew, the Ducas. :eek:

Anyone but that consistently-treacherous family.

Well Leo VI liked them... So they are a serious contender in bride-picking for "Basil II"...

As for "Basil's II" character i d say that since he would succeed at 22 yo he might have some good army training and on the same time be a good administrator like Leo VI... Sort of an early OTL Basil II...
If he takes a Phokas bride he would have some of the best Generals on his side... If he takes a Maleinos bride he would have the support of the richest family of the Empire plus a good relationship with Church...
 
Top