Editing Basil I (section)

==From peasant to emperor==
Basil was born to peasant parents in late 811 (or sometime in the 830s in the estimation of some scholars) at [[Chariopolis]] in the [[Byzantine themes|Byzantine theme]] of [[Macedonia (theme)|Macedonia]] (an administrative division corresponding to the area of [[Edirne|Adrianople]] in [[Thrace]]).<ref name="Treadgold, p. 455">{{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=455}}.</ref><ref name="Vasiliev, p. 301">{{harvnb|Vasiliev|1928–1935|p=301}}.</ref> The name of his father was Bardas/Constantine, the name of his mother was Pankalo, the name of his paternal grandfather was Maiktes/Leo. His paternal grandmother's father was named Leo/Maiktes.<ref name=":1" /> His ethnic origin is unknown and has been a subject of debate.
[[File:KoutragonBasileiosBGhistory.jpg|thumb|A young Basil at the court of [[Omurtag of Bulgaria]].]]
During Basil's reign, an elaborate genealogy was produced that purported that his ancestors were not mere peasants, as everyone believed, but descendants of the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid]] (Arshakuni) kings of [[Kingdom of Armenia (Antiquity)|Armenia]], [[Alexander the Great]] and also of [[Constantine the Great]]. The Armenian historians [[Samuel of Ani]] and [[Stephen of Taron]] record that he hailed from the village of Thil in [[Taron (historic Armenia)|Taron]].<ref name=":1">{{harvnb|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/database/PMBZ/entry/PMBZ11920/html Basileios I.] (#832/add. corr.)}}</ref> In contrast, Persian writers such as [[Hamza al-Isfahani]],{{sfn|Tobias|2007|p=20}} or [[al-Tabari]], call both Basil and his mother ''[[Saqlabi]]'', an ethnogeographic term that usually denoted the [[Slavs]], but can also be interpreted as a generic term encompassing the inhabitants of the region between [[Constantinople]] and [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]].{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/database/PMBZ/entry/PMBZ16866/html Pankalo] (#5679)}} Claims have therefore been made for an Armenian,{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=455}} Slavic,{{sfn|Tobias|2007|p=20}}{{sfn|Finlay|1853|p=213}} or indeed "Armeno-Slavonic"<ref name="Vasiliev, p. 301" /> origin for Basil's father. The name of his mother points to a Greek origin on the maternal side.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kargakos|first=Sarantos I.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44045861|title=Historia tou Hellēnikou kosmou kai tou meizonos chōrou : Eurōpē, Asia, Aphrikē, Amerikē|date=1999|publisher=Gutenberg|isbn=960-01-0822-6|edition=1. ekd|location=Athēna|pages=580–581|oclc=44045861}}</ref> The general scholarly consensus is that Basil's father was "probably" of Armenian origin, and settled in Byzantine Thrace.<ref name=":1" /> His close associates and friends were mostly Armenians and, besides [[Greek language|Greek]], he might have spoken [[Armenian language|Armenian]] as well.{{sfn|Tobias|2007|p=24}} Norman Tobias, the author of the only dedicated [[biography]] of Basil I in [[English language|English]], concluded that it is impossible to be certain what the ethnic origins of the emperor were, though Basil was definitely reliant on the support of Armenians in prominent positions within the Byzantine Empire.{{sfn|Tobias|2007|p=264}}

[[File:BasileiosWrestlingMatch.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Basil victorious in a wrestling match against a Bulgarian champion (far left), from the ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'' manuscript.]]
One story asserts that he had spent a part of his childhood in captivity in [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]], where his family had, allegedly, been carried off as captives of the Khan [[Krum of Bulgaria|Krum]] (r. 803–814) in 813. Basil lived there until 836, when he and several others escaped to Byzantine-held territory in [[Thrace]].<ref name="Treadgold, p. 455"/> Basil was ultimately lucky enough to enter the service of Theophilitzes, a relative of the [[Caesar (title)|Caesar]] [[Bardas]] (the uncle of Emperor [[Michael III]]), as a groom. While serving Theophilitzes, he visited the city of [[Patras]], where he gained the favour of [[Danielis]], a wealthy woman who took him into her household and endowed him with a fortune.{{sfn|Bury|1911}} He also earned the notice of Michael III by his abilities as a horse tamer and in winning a victory over a Bulgarian champion in a [[amateur wrestling|wrestling]] match; he soon became the Byzantine Emperor's companion, confidant, and bodyguard (''[[parakoimomenos]]'').<ref>{{harvnb|Gregory|2010|p=242}}.</ref> Symeon Magister describes Basil as "... most outstanding in bodily form and heavy set; his eyebrows grew together, he had large eyes and a broad chest, and a rather downcast expression".{{sfn|Head|1980|pp=231–232}}

[[File:Coronation of Basil the Macedonian as co-emperor.png|thumb|right|250px|The coronation of Basil I as co-emperor, from the ''[[Madrid Skylitzes]]'' manuscript]]

On Emperor Michael's orders, Basil divorced his wife Maria and married [[Eudokia Ingerina]], Michael's favourite mistress, in around 865.{{sfn|Bury|1911}} Around the same time, Michael III offered him his sister [[Thekla (daughter of Theophilos)|Thekla]] as a mistress. Basil had an affair with her until 870, when he discovered that she was being unfaithful to him and, for this reason, he sent her back to the convent she had been immured in previously.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Greenwalt |first=William S. |url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_0787640743_15 |title=Women in world history : a biographical encyclopedia |date=1999 |publisher=Waterford, CT : Yorkin Publications |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-7876-3736-1 |pages=344–345}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Herrin |first=Judith |url=http://archive.org/details/womeninpurplerul0000herr |title=Women in purple : rulers of medieval Byzantium |date=2002 |publisher=London : Phoenix |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-84212-529-8 |pages=228–229}}</ref> During an expedition against the [[Arabs]], Basil convinced Michael III that his uncle Bardas coveted the Byzantine throne, and subsequently murdered Bardas with Michael's approval on 21 April 866.<ref name=":0">''[[Theophanes Continuatus]]'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=AmgvoxVBjAAC&pg=PA207 IV.43.]</ref> Basil then became the leading personality at court and was invested in the now vacant dignity of ''kaisar'' (Caesar), before being [[coronation of the Byzantine emperor|crowned co-emperor]] on 26 May 866.<ref name=":0" /> This promotion may have included Basil's adoption by Michael III, himself a much younger man. It was commonly believed that [[Leo VI the Wise|Leo VI]], Basil's successor and reputed son, was really the son of Michael.{{sfn|Bury|1911}} Although Basil seems to have shared this belief (and hated Leo), the subsequent promotion of Basil to caesar and then co-emperor provided the child with a legitimate and Imperial parent and secured his succession to the Byzantine throne. When Leo was born, Michael III celebrated the event with public [[chariot races]], whilst he pointedly instructed Basil not to presume on his new position as junior emperor.<ref>{{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|p=453}}.</ref>
[[File:Assassination of Michael III.png|thumb|The murder of Michael III and the proclamation of Basil I as the new emperor]]
When Michael III started to favour another courtier, [[Basiliskianos]], Basil felt that his position was being undermined. Michael threatened to invest Basiliskianos with the Imperial title and this induced Basil to pre-empt events by organizing the assassination of Michael on the night of 24 September 867.<ref>''[[Theophanes Continuatus]]'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=YREbAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA210 IV.44.]</ref>{{refn|group="note"|Some modern authorities give 23 September,<ref>[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] (2021), [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-III-Byzantine-emperor Michael III].</ref> but this is a mistake. The origin of the confusion can be traced to [[J. B. Bury]]'s ''[[History of the Eastern Roman Empire]]'' (1912). Bury, citing the ''[[Theophanes Continuatus]]'', first gives Michael's death as 24 September,{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924074296264/page/n198/mode/1up 177]}} but then inexplicably changes it to 23 September later in the book.{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924074296264/page/n490/mode/1up 469]}}}} Michael and Basiliskianos were insensibly drunk following a banquet at the palace of Anthimos when Basil, with a small group of companions (including his father Bardas, brother Marinos, and cousin Ayleon),{{NoteTag|The name of the father of Basil is unrecorded; however, Byzantine naming conventions are sometimes used to predict that of a relative. The names of Basil's male siblings and other relatives are recorded from later in his reign.{{sfn|Tougher|1997|p=26}}<ref>Herlong, M. (1987) ''Kinship and social mobility in Byzantium, 717–959'', Catholic University of America, pp.&nbsp;76–77.</ref>}} gained entry. The locks to the chamber doors had been tampered with and the chamberlain had not posted guards; both victims were then put to the [[sword]].{{NoteTag|A man named John of Chaldia killed Michael III, cutting off both the Emperor's hands before returning to stab him in the heart.<ref>{{harvnb|Finlay|1853|pp=180–181}}</ref>}} On Michael III's death, Basil, as an already acclaimed co-emperor, automatically became the ruling ''[[basileus]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Treadgold|1997|pp=453–455}}.</ref>