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Leo the Wise

Leo VI
Λέων ΣΤ΄
Detail of the Imperial Gate mosaic in Hagia Sophia showing Leo VI the Wise.jpg
A mosaic in Hagia Sophia showing Leo VI paying homage to Christ
Emperor of the Byzantine Empire
Reign 29 August 886 – 11 May 912
Coronation 870 as co-emperor
Predecessor Basil I
Successor Alexander
Born (866-09-19)19 September 866
Constantinople
Died 11 May 912(912-05-11) (aged 45)
Constantinople
Burial Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople
Wives
Issue Eudokia, Anna, Anna, Basil, Constantine VII
Full name
Leo VI "the Wise" or "the Philosopher"
Dynasty Macedonian
Father Basil I or possibly Michael III
Mother Eudokia Ingerina
Full name
Leo VI "the Wise" or "the Philosopher"

Leo VI, called the Wise or the Philosopher (Greek: Λέων ΣΤ΄ ὁ Σοφός, Leōn VI ho Sophos, 19 September 866 – 11 May 912), was Byzantine Emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty (although his parentage is unclear), he was very well-read, leading to his surname. During his reign, the renaissance of letters, begun by his predecessor Basil I, continued; but the Empire also saw several military defeats in the Balkans against Bulgaria and against the Arabs in Sicily and the Aegean. His reign also witnessed the formal discontinuation of several ancient Roman institutions, such as the Roman consul and Senate (in this period also known as the Byzantine Senate), which continued to exist in name only and lost all of its original functions and powers.

Born to the empress Eudokia Ingerina, Leo was either the illegitimate son of Emperor Michael III or the second son of his successor, Basil I the Macedonian. Eudokia was both Michael III's mistress and Basil’s wife. In 867, Michael was assassinated by Basil, who succeeded him as Emperor. As the second eldest son of the Emperor, Leo was associated on the throne in 870 and became the direct heir on the death of his older half-brother Constantine in 879. However, Leo and Basil did not like each other; a relationship that only deteriorated after Eudokia's death, when Leo, unhappy with his marriage to Theophano Martiniake, took up a mistress in the person of Zoe Zaoutzaina. Basil married Zoe off to an insignificant official, and later almost had Leo blinded when he was accused of conspiring against him. On August 29, 886, Basil died in a hunting accident, though he claimed on his deathbed that there was an assassination attempt in which Leo was possibly involved.


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