General Notes

BASIL THE MACEDONIAN  Byzantine emperor (867-886), who founded theMacedonian dynasty and formulated the Greek legal code that later becameknown as the Basilica. Basil came of a peasant family that had settled inMacedonia, perhaps of Armenian origin. He was a handsome and physicallypowerful man who gained employment in influential official circles inConstantinople and was fortunate enough to attract the imperial eye ofthe reigning emperor, Michael III. After rapid promotion he became chiefequerry, then chamberlain, and finally, in 866, co-emperor with Michael.Quick to sense opposition, he forestalled the Emperor's uncle, thepowerful Caesar Bardas, by murdering him (866) and followed this bykilling his own patron, Michael, who had begun to show signs ofwithdrawing his favour (867).