Byzantine Emperor. He was born in AD 866 and may have been the illegitimate son of the Emperor Michael III. He was made associate ruler with the Emperor Basil I in AD 870, and came to the throne in his own right on Basil's death in AD 886. He immediately ordered Michael's reburial at Constantinople, adding to speculation that he was his son. His reputation for learning earned him the names "The Wise" and "The Philosopher" and his literary work included completing the translation of "The Basilica", a law code issued by Justinian, writing poetry and publishing the "Tactica", a study of military strategy. He is recorded that he frequently disguised himself in order to look for corruption and injustice, on one occasion testing the city guards by offering them bribes and then punishing those who accepted them. He had a poor record in battle, being defeated by the Bulgarians in AD 894, and also losing the territories of Taormina and Thessalonica. He had his son, Constantine VII, crowned at age two, but was succeeded by his younger brother Alexander after his death in AD 912.
Byzantine Emperor. He was born in AD 866 and may have been the illegitimate son of the Emperor Michael III. He was made associate ruler with the Emperor Basil I in AD 870, and came to the throne in his own right on Basil's death in AD 886. He immediately ordered Michael's reburial at Constantinople, adding to speculation that he was his son. His reputation for learning earned him the names "The Wise" and "The Philosopher" and his literary work included completing the translation of "The Basilica", a law code issued by Justinian, writing poetry and publishing the "Tactica", a study of military strategy. He is recorded that he frequently disguised himself in order to look for corruption and injustice, on one occasion testing the city guards by offering them bribes and then punishing those who accepted them. He had a poor record in battle, being defeated by the Bulgarians in AD 894, and also losing the territories of Taormina and Thessalonica. He had his son, Constantine VII, crowned at age two, but was succeeded by his younger brother Alexander after his death in AD 912.
Bio by: js
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