Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ValiantKnight, post: 2106043, member: 44210&quot;]Picked up another Byzantine from the 10th century, this time its of Leo VI &quot;the Wise&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>Either the son of emperor Michael III or his successor Basil I, Leo VI was born in 866 at Constantinople, and became co-emperor alongside Basil I. The two had a rough relationship; at one point Basil almost had young Leo blinded. In 886, Basil went to his grave believing Leo had something to do with his fatal hunting accident.</p><p><br /></p><p>Leo succeeded Basil, and the new emperor quickly consolidated his rule and appointed allies to positions close to him, and sought to bring certain groups under control, such as the aristocratic families and the Orthodox Church. He also did not tolerate injustice or corruption of any kind; legend says he sometimes roamed around the capital disguised, and would weed out corrupt guards by attempting to bribe them with money.</p><p><br /></p><p>Leo&#039;s wars were a mixed bag. He successfully put the heat on the Arabs on the eastern borders, invaded Armenia, and had the Magyars attack the Bulgarians in the north. But his attempt to take back Cyprus failed, and Constantinople and Thessalonika were attacked by the Rus and Muslim forces respectively.</p><p><br /></p><p>Leo VI died in 912 and was succeeded by his brother Alexander.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Leo VI</u>, Byzantine Empire</b></p><p>AE follis</p><p><u>Obv</u>: LEON bASILEVS ROM, crowned, bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys and&nbsp; holding akakia</p><p><u>Rev</u>: +LEON EN QEO BA-SILEVS R-OMEON legend in four lines</p><p><u>Mint</u>: Constantinople (struck 886-912)</p><p>Ref: SB 1729</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa429/LurkingNinja/leoVI_zps19b65uzr.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in