Leo VI

:This article is about the Byzantine Emperor. There is also an article on Pope Leo VI

War troubles

Leo was a weak-minded ruler, chiefly occupied with unimportant wars with barbarians and struggles with churchmen. He was not as successful in battle as Basil had been. Basil had never lost to the Bulgarians, but in 894 they routed Leo's army. In 895 he was more successful, after first allying with the Magyars, but in 896, without Magyar help, the Byzantines were again defeated. Finally, Bulgarian Symeon, who assumed the title of "Czar of the Bulgarians and autocrat of the Romaei" secured the independence of his church by the establishment of a patriarchate.

Related Topics:
Bulgaria - 894 - 895 - Magyars - 896 - Symeon - Patriarch

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The chief event of his middle reign was the capture of Thessalonica (904) by Muslim pirates (described in The Capture of Thessalonica by John Cameniata) under the renegade Leo of Tripolis. In 907 Constantinople was attacked by the Kievan Rus', who were seeking favourable trading rights with the empire. Leo paid them off, but they attacked again in 911, and a trade treaty was finally signed.

Related Topics:
Thessalonica - John Cameniata - Leo of Tripolis - 907 - Constantinople - Kievan Rus' - 911

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In Sicily and Calabria the imperial arms were unsuccessful, as the Arabs defeated his fleet when he attempted to take back Crete in 912. After this defeat Leo quickly became ill and died. As his son was still a child, Leo's brother and nominal (though powerless) co-emperor Alexander became full emperor.

Related Topics:
Sicily - Calabria - Arab - Crete - 912 - Alexander

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