Basil II was the Byzantine Emperor from 976 to 1025. He is considered one of the most successful Byzantine rulers and his reign is often considered the height of the Byzantine Empire. One of the most interesting aspects of his life is that he never married, despite being one of the most eligible bachelors of his time.
There are a number of theories as to why he never married, but the most likely reason is that he was simply too focused on his work and his empire to worry about finding a wife.
Who was the emperor of the byzantine empire before constantine?
The emperor of the byzantine empire before Constantine was Constantine I.
Who are the byzantines today?
The Byzantines are a people and a culture who have their origins in the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire, which spanned much of the Mediterranean region and beyond from the fourth century until its fall to the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century. Today, the majority of Byzantines live in the modern-day Republic of Turkey, with smaller communities also found in Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria.
There are also significant Byzantine communities in the United States and Canada.
Did basil ii have kids?
Basil II was Byzantine Emperor from 976 to 1025. There is no record of Basil II having any children.
Who was basil ii as the byzantine emperor?
Basil II was the byzantine emperor from 867 to 886. He was the eldest son of Emperor Michael III and Empress Theodora. He had two elder brothers, Constantine and Nikephoros.
Basil was proclaimed co-emperor with his father in 866. After his father’s death in 867, Basil became sole emperor. He strengthened the empire against the Arabs and defeated them in 871. Basil also strengthened the economy and reformed the administration.
He died in 886 and was succeeded by his son, Michael IV.
Who is basil ii of bulgaria?
Basil II (Bulgarian: Басил II, Basili II; 22 January 1876 – 25 October 1943) was the last Bulgarian Tsar and the last of the Old Bulgarian Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Ferdinand of Bulgaria and his first wife, Marie of Romania.
Basil was born in 1876 in Turnovo, Principality of Bulgaria and was baptised the same day. He was the grandson of Alexander of Bulgaria, and the great-grandson of Tsar Constantine I of Bulgaria.
Basil ascended to the throne of Bulgaria on 11 November 1916, after his father’s abdication in his favour. He was crowned on 18 November 1916 in the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sofia in Sofia.
During his reign, Bulgaria was involved in World War I, the Russian Revolution of 1905, and the Balkan Wars of 1912–13. In 1918, Bulgaria was defeated in the Greco-Turkish War and had to cede most of its territory, including Dobruja, to the Ottoman Empire.
Basil II was overthrown in a military coup d’état on 25 October 1943, and was executed two days later. He was succeeded by his brother, Boris III.
Did basil ii marry?
Basil II was married to an unnamed woman in 867 AD. He had two children with her: a daughter, Zoe, and a son, Michael. Zoe married Leo VI the Isaurian in 886 AD, and Michael married Theophano.
Could they marry in the byzantine empire?
Yes, under the Byzantine Empire, marriages could be performed by an appointed bishop. This meant that religious ceremonies were not necessary, which was an advantage for young people who may not have been able to afford a church wedding.
Additionally, under Byzantine law, marriages were considered to be contracts between two individuals, which meant that divorces were more difficult to obtain.
Who was basil i in the byzantine empire?
Basil I (reigned c. 330-379) was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 330 to 379. He was the son of Constantine the Great and his first wife Helena. Basil was born in the city of Nicomedia in Bithynia, and his father appointed him co-emperor in 330. Constantine wanted his son to inherit his military successes and cement the succession, but also to provide a political balance to his more dominant wife, Constantina.
As co-emperor, Basil could not make decisions on his own, and had to defer to his father in most matters.
Basil succeeded his father in 379, after Constantine died suddenly of a heart attack while besieging a city in Anatolia. The new emperor quickly showed his political skills by quelling a revolt in Syria, and through a series of successful military campaigns, expanded the empire to its greatest extent.
He established the formal court system of Constantinople and promoted Christianity, making it the official religion of the empire. Basil also strengthened the military and bureaucratic structure of the empire, and completed the construction of the great Eastern Roman Walls.
Basil was a capable leader and managed the empire well, but his reign was also marked by religious controversies. He struggled to balance the traditional religious practices of the empire with the new Christian beliefs of his subjects.
In 381, he issued an edict that forced all non-Christians to convert or face death, and after the outbreak of the Great Persecution of 382, many died in prison. Basil was also criticized for his lavish spending, which caused widespread economic problems.
He died in 379 after a long and illness-filled reign, and was succeeded by his nephew, Theodosius I.
How did basil ii gain the throne?
Basil II was the eldest son of Emperor Constantine VIII and Empress Helena. He was born in 945 and was crowned co-emperor with his father in 959. In 962, Constantine IX died and Basil was proclaimed emperor.
He ruled jointly with his father until Constantine IX’s death in 963, after which Basil became sole emperor.
Basil had to deal with a number of rebellions during his reign, most notably a revolt by his brother-in-law, Romanos II Argyros, in 969-70. He defeated Romanos II, who was killed in the battle. Basil also had to deal with the influx of Slavic nomads into the Byzantine Empire and the continuing threat from the Muslims.
He defeated the Muslims in several battles, most notably at the Battle of Abydos in 1029. Basil also attempted to revive the Byzantine economy, which had been in decline since the late 9th century. He promoted agriculture, built roads and bridges, and increased taxes.
Basil died in 1025 and was succeeded by his son Constantine IX.
Summary
There are many possible reasons why Byzantine Emperor Basil II never married. He may have been celibate, or he may have been homosexual.
He may have also been too focused on his career to consider marriage.