The Knife Behind the Throne: Basil I and the Silent Hands of Power

On 7 April 866 the Byzantines launched an expedition to retake Crete, which was under Muslim control. The scale of the operation appears to have been very large. The Byzantine army and navy had gathered at Kepoi, on the Meander River along the coast of the Thracesion theme; Michael III, Basil and Bardas were also present. However, the expedition was never meant to reach its destination. On 21 April 866, Bardas was murdered in Michael III’s tent at Kepoi and the expedition subsequently returned to the Byzantine capital. Although the historiography favorable to Basil (i.e., Theophanes Continuatus, Genesios, and Vita Basilii) attempts to absolve him of any direct responsibility, we learn not only that Basil played a decisive role in the murder, but also the names of his associates. Namely, Symbatios (Caesar Bardas’ father-in-law), Ioannes Chaldos, Marianos, Constantinos Toxaras, Asyleon and Bardas, Basil’s brother. This very group, joined by Iakobitzes, a known supporter of Basil, is once again attested as acting in concert during the assassination of Michael III on the night of 23–24 September 867, thus paving the way for Basil’s sole rule as emperor.
The objective of the presentation is to examine whether Basil had established a secret heteria with a select group of people, to whom he may have promised promotions and influence in exchange for their loyalty, as part of his ascent to the throne. By distinguishing between imperial propaganda and historical reality, the presentation also aims to contribute to the understanding of the shifting dynamics within the emperor's inner circle and the mechanisms through which authority was both contested and consolidated at the Byzantine court.